Crime &Delinquency, Ahead of Print.
Recent scholarship suggests attitudes toward the police and law are important facets of crime control efforts. Procedurally just policing is recognized as a predictor of citizens’ cooperation and confidence in the police, but it remains unclear whether it can also reduce criminal behavior. Using a sample of justice-involved individuals, this study examined whether procedurally just policing predicts future offending and, if so, whether its effect is due to perceived legitimacy of the law. Results showed that procedurally just policing was negatively associated with recidivism, and legitimacy of the law mediated this link. The results suggest that enhancing procedural justice in policing practice in at-risk communities should be considered a critical component of crime prevention.