Do Race and Ethnicity Matter? An Examination of Racial/Ethnic Differences in Perceptions of Procedural Justice and Recidivism Among Problem-Solving Court Clients

Abstract

Over the years, a distinct body of research has emerged that examines procedural justice in problem-solving courts. However, there is virtually no research to date on racial and ethnic differences in perceptions of procedural justice among problemsolving court clients. The present study seeks to understand the complexities of judicial procedural justice and race/ethnicity within problem-solving courts. Using a convenience sample of 132 clients from two problem-solving courts in a southern state, this study addresses a void in the literature by examining the influence of race/ ethnicity on perceptions of procedural justice as well as the impact of race/ethnicity and procedural justice on clients' likelihood of recidivism. Results suggest that Black problem-solving court clients' have significantly lower perceptions of procedural justice, while also having a lower likelihood of recidivism. Perceptions of procedural justice did not influence recidivism outcomes. Policy implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Does Reentry Court Completion Affect Recidivism Three Years after Exit? Results from a Retrospective Cohort Study

“…This suggests that the court's structure, service delivery, resources, and staff may have created a therapeutically responsive setting that benefitted Black participants. Although similar findings have been generated from evaluations of other types of problem-solving courts (Atkin-Plunk & Armstrong, 2016;Atkin-Plunk, Peck, & Armstrong, 2019), this result may be an idiosyncratic feature of the current setting. Results must be interpreted with these court elements in mind and should not be generalized to or interpreted as being representative of all reentry courts.…”

Community Courts & Race: An Examination of Community Court Judges, Staff, and Racial Dynamics

“…Her strategies of using casual conversation, assigned readings, and essay responses as methods to encourage discussion, motivation, and influence led to more opportunity for rapport building. Her consistent references to shared cultural-historical identity with participants established a rapport that may lead to higher levels of trust and increased effectiveness of procedural justice outcomes (Atkin-Plunk et al, 2019).…”

“…Secondly, this research highlights the fact that shared racial identity with authority does play a role with perceptions of fair treatment and justice, especially in a court setting. For example, Atkin-Plunk et al (2019) find that black PSC participants have significantly lower perceptions of procedural justice, possibly due to the lack of diversity of courtroom staff. However, these studies do not have the data to explore how the processes of shared racial/ethnic identity influence program outcomes.…”

Police Procedural Justice, Lawyer Procedural Justice, Judge Procedural Justice, and Satisfaction With the Criminal Justice System: Findings From a Neglected Region of the World

“…Prior scholarship has shown that police procedural justice was an antecedent of court procedural justice (Baker et al, 2015; Casper et al, 1988). While this distinction between police procedural justice and court procedural justice is important, it also reflects the interconnectedness of the criminal justice system (Atkin-Plunk et al, 2019). Casper et al (1988), for example, created a procedural justice index that combined 16 questions about lawyer procedural justice, prosecutor procedural justice, and judge procedural justice in their assessment of litigants’ satisfaction with the outcomes of their court cases.…”