The impact of surveillance and procedurally just behavior on civilian affect and responses in hypothetical interactions with police officers

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of surveillance from civilian smartphones and police body-worn cameras (BWCs), procedurally just tactics, and legal culpability on individuals’ emotional reactions and willingness to comply during police interactions.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are used from two randomized factorial survey vignette experiments conducted with a national sample of Americans (n=962).

Findings

The presence of BWCs reduces reported fear in both vignettes, and also reduces reported anger in one vignette. In contrast, the presence of a smartphone is not significantly related to anger or fear. In both vignettes, non-procedurally just treatment increases reported fear and anger, and decreases intent to comply, with reported anger mediating the relationship between non-procedurally just treatment and compliance.

Originality/value

These findings suggest different forms of surveillance may have distinct effects on citizens’ reported emotional states and behavioral intentions. Further, the results corroborate research on the relationship between procedural justice and affect, and provide evidence procedurally just strategies may decrease crime directly by preemptively dampening non-compliance.

Citation

Roche, S.P. (2019), "The impact of surveillance and procedurally just behavior on civilian affect and responses in hypothetical interactions with police officers", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 42 No. 6, pp. 1107-1123. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-12-2018-0192