NCJ Number
240968
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 52 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2012 Pages: 1051-1071
Date Published
November 2012
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study examined peoples reasons for morally and legally complying with laws.
Abstract
This paper extends Tyler's procedural justice model of public compliance with the law. Analyzing data from a national probability sample of adults in England and Wales, the authors present a new conceptualization of legitimacy based on not just the recognition of power, but also the justification of power. The authors found that people accept the police's right to dictate appropriate behavior not only when they feel a duty to obey officers, but also when they believe that the institution acts according to a shared moral purpose with citizens. Highlighting a number of different routes by which institutions can influence citizen behavior, the broader normative model provides a better framework for explaining why people are willing to comply with the law. (Published Abstract)