Experimental Evidence for Accountability and Legitimacy in Policing

• In Event: Accountability and Responsiveness in Public Policy

Abstract

Public support for law enforcement in the United States is at historical lows and is characterized by high levels of polarization and low levels of support among racial minorities. Reformers and policymakers are increasingly calling for increased accountability of policing in order to approve perceptions of legitimacy. This paper presents a pre-registered information provision survey experiment, where respondents are presented with real instances of policing misconduct across different levels of severity. They are then presented with information about how the incident of misconduct was investigated, and how disciplinary decisions were made. We vary whether the respondents are told that the misconduct was investigated by an internal investigation unit or an external civilian oversight board, and then whether the police chief supports the outcome of the investigation. This paper holds important implications for reform efforts towards increasing accountability in policing: democratic oversight institutions increase public support for policing and bolster the legitimacy of efforts towards holding law enforcement accountable.

Authors

• Josh McCrain, University of Utah

• Kaylyn Jackson Schiff, Purdue University

• Ian Adams, University of utah

• Daniel S. Schiff, Purdue University