Assessing the process-based model of regulation within a jail setting: arrestees’ perceptions of procedural justice, trust and obligation to obey

A substantial body of research has demonstrated the importance of procedural justice, trust, and obligation to obey in generating enhanced levels of compliance and cooperation with the criminal justice system. Although this body of research has found a strong relationship between perceptions of police procedural justice, legitimacy, trust, and obligation to obey, research examining individuals’ views of procedural justice and its relation to many positive outcomes of correctional officers is limited in size, especially in jail settings. Using data from a sample of arrestees (n = 443) in one Maricopa County, Arizona jail, this study tests the applicability of the process-based model of regulation in assessing arrestees’ perceptions of detention officers. The results show a positive and significant relationship between perceptions of procedural justice, trust, and obligation to obey detention officers. Specifically, procedural justice was the strongest indicator of both trust and obligation to obey.