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Legitimacy, Procedural Justice, And Neighborhood Dynamics: Thoughts On Police Reform, Robert Lyle Nicewarner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Currently, there is much debate about how to alleviate tensions between communities and police. These tensions do not illustrate the full scope of the problem, but show us symptoms of a larger, more structural issue. Many scholars point to procedural justice tactics as a way to increase the legitimacy of the police; thus, creating a safer environment where citizens do not fear the police but respect, obey, and defer to them. However, not every neighborhood is the same and not every neighborhood needs the same kind of policing style. Drawing on theories of collective efficacy and social cognition I propose …