Which practice best promotes procedural justice in policing?

• A. Rely on force
• B. Treating all individuals with dignity and fairness
• C. Ignore community input
• D. Increase penalties

Answer: (B)

Procedural justice is about fairness in the policing process—the way decisions are made and how people are treated during encounters. The best practice embodies dignity and fairness toward every individual, which directly communicates respect, reduces perceptions of bias, and helps build trust and legitimacy in law enforcement. When officers treat people with respect and fairness, they acknowledge the person’s experience, allow them to express their side of the story, and apply rules neutrally, making the outcome feel fair even if enforcement action is taken.

Relying on force tends to convey coercion rather than fair process, which can undermine trust. Ignoring community input removes the voice element that strengthens legitimacy and compliance. Increasing penalties emphasizes punishment over the fairness of the process and can erode perceived fairness and cooperation.