Detainees’ Perceptions, Case managers’ Perceptions, and Observed Assessments of Procedural Justice: An Exploratory Observational Study

Most studies examining the role of procedural justice in encouraging legitimacy and compliance are based on how individuals feel treated by criminal justice agents. The aim of this exploratory study is to integrate different perspectives on procedural justice: (i) individuals’ perceptions of procedural justice, (ii) an observational assessment of actual behavior, and (iii) criminal justice agents’ perceptions on how procedurally (un-)just they treated individuals. Data were used from 47 interactions between detainees and case managers––working as re-integration professionals––in Dutch prisons, which included a systematic social observation protocol and questionnaires administered to detainees and case managers. The findings showed that detainees, case managers, and an observer generally reported high levels of procedural justice. However, case managers’ perceptions and observed assessments of procedural justice only partially related to how detainees perceived procedural justice. This exploratory study offers a new approach to examine perceived procedural justice by including other perspectives.