Exploring the linkage between changes in detainees’ perceptions of procedural justice and changes in misconduct

A growing body of research has studied the role of procedural justice for securing compliant behavior in the correctional context. The purpose of this paper is to advance current knowledge by examining (a) whether detainees change their perceptions of prison staff procedural justice over time, and (b) the extent to which individual changes in procedural justice relate to changes in misconduct. We used longitudinal data on 712 adults who entered Dutch pre-trial detention centers. Reliable change index scores were used to identify changes in procedural justice experienced in contacts with prison staff. Logistic regression models were employed to estimate the effects of changes in procedural justice on changes in misconduct. The results show that detainees’ perceptions of fairness are malleable, and that most detainees (52.2%) experience a decrease in procedural justice during imprisonment. Detainees reporting an increase in procedural justice are less likely to show increases in misconduct. Furthermore, those with high procedural justice perceptions at both times are more likely to abstain from misconduct at both times. More research is needed to improve our knowledge on individual changes in procedural justice and changes in actual behavior.