ABSTRACT

The process-based model of regulation has become a dominant framework for understanding why people obey the law. Grounded in past and present research, the current study explores how the process-based model of regulation may explain motivational differences for entering the police profession in the post-Ferguson time era: a time period in which police agencies are expressing increased difficulties recruiting and hiring new officers. Some commentators have attributed these challenges to the heightened levels of public and media scrutiny. Considering the hiring challenges faced by law enforcement agencies, the current study investigates whether students’ (i.e. prospective police officers) motivation to enter the police profession is influenced by the procedurally just treatment of individuals by the police. Using a sample of college students from two universities, the findings provide support for the aforementioned inquiry. The implications of these findings are contextualized against the backdrop of the Ferguson Effect, procedural justice, and hiring challenges in the police profession.

摘要

基于过程的监管模型已成为理解人们为何遵守法律的主要框架。在过去和现在的研究基础上，本研究探索了基于过程的监管模型如何解释在后弗格森时代进入警察行业的动机差异：在这个时期，警察机构表示招募和聘用方面的困难越来越大新军官。一些评论员将这些挑战归因于公众和媒体审查水平的提高。考虑到执法机构面临的招聘挑战，当前的研究调查了学生（即未来的警官）进入警察行业的动机是否受到警察对个人的程序公正待遇的影响。使用来自两所大学的大学生样本，研究结果为上述询问提供了支持。这些发现的含义是在弗格森效应，程序正义和警察行业招聘挑战的背景下进行情境化的。