Perceptions of Fairness and Satisfaction in Lawyer–Client Interactions Among Young Offenders in Hong Kong

Abstract

This study used a mixed methods approach to examine the perceptions of fairness and satisfaction young offenders have toward their lawyers in the Hong Kong criminal justice system, drawing on procedural justice theory. A sample of 168 young offenders aged between 14 and 21 years old was surveyed. Regression analyses indicated that participants who had private lawyers were more satisfied compared to those who had duty lawyers. Two elements of procedural justice, participation, and trustworthiness, demonstrated the strongest influence on youths' satisfaction with their lawyers. Supplementary interviews with 30 young defendants further explained the discrepancy, revealing that the limited amount of time spent by duty lawyers in meetings and their detached focus contributed to clients' low perceptions of participation and trustworthiness.

Passing the Threshold of One Justice System to the Next: Challenges of Emerging Young Adults in Hong Kong’s Adult Criminal Justice Process

“…Expending more time to explain matters may be trying for the lower courts where they are often tasked with huge caseloads and long daily court lists and especially for publicly funded lawyers as well where there is limited time for them to meet with their clients (see Chui & Cheng, 2017). This differs from the Juvenile Court where the court takes more time to explain matters to juvenile defendants.…”

The Journal of Mixed Methods Research Starts a New Decade

“…They use free listing and prototype analysis to investigate the conceptual relationship between love, romantic love, and sex. Chui and Cheng (2017) from the field of applied social sciences conduct a mixed methods study to examine the perceptions of fairness and satisfaction that young offenders have toward their lawyers. The quantitative findings show that participants who had private lawyers were more satisfied compared to those who had duty lawyers.…”

Public assessments of the police and policing in Hong Kong

“…In Hong Kong, there is some research evidence to suggest the salience of ''participation'' and ''trustworthiness'' in understanding young offenders' perceptions of procedural justice in court and their level of satisfaction with lawyers (Chui & Cheng, 2015). Yet despite a range of surveys regarding public satisfaction with the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF (see below)), research is lacking which explores dimensions of satisfaction and trust with the HKPF, especially with regards to the processes and quality of decisionmaking and their symbolic role in defending social cohesion in Hong Kong.…”

“…Jackson and Sunshine (As 2007, p. 216) argue:The public look to the police to defend and reassert the moral structure when that structure is felt to be under threat. …Symbolic concerns about social order may be just as important in driving public confidence in policing as worries about falling victim of crime.In Hong Kong, there is some research evidence to suggest the salience of “participation” and “trustworthiness” in understanding young offenders' perceptions of procedural justice in court and their level of satisfaction with lawyers (Chui & Cheng, 2015). Yet despite a range of surveys regarding public satisfaction with the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF (see below)), research is lacking which explores dimensions of satisfaction and trust with the HKPF, especially with regards to the processes and quality of decision-making and their symbolic role in defending social cohesion in Hong Kong.…”

“…The foundational psychological insights of Tom Tyler's distinction between people's sense of justice based on process and on outcome have also inspired numerous criminological studies on public attitudes toward the police and the rest of the criminal justice system and on the question of legitimacy. These studies, initially conducted in the United States (Tyler, 1990; Tyler & Huo, 2002), inspired subsequent research in the United Kingdom (Jackson & Bradford, 2010; Loader & Mulcahy, 2003), Hong Kong (Chui & Cheng, 2015) and China (Sun et al., 2013; Tankebe, 2008). To date, there has been a lack of systematic examination of public perceptions of police in Hong Kong through a qualitative framework which contextualizes the above concepts in terms of the lived experiences of citizens.…”