Touchstone 2: Procedural Justice

Touchstone 2: Procedural Justice

Overview

What You Will Learn:
This assignment will help you apply the theoretical framework of procedural justice to issues in policing, courts, and corrections.

Why It Matters:
By considering the four pillars of fairness, voice, transparency, and impartiality in the context of policing, courts, and corrections, you will develop a nuanced perspective on how these principles are applied (and sometimes neglected).

What You Will Hand In:
A Microsoft Word document answering questions about the four pillars of justice, with a reference page, in APA format.

Keys to Success:

• Submit original work written by you.
• Read the directions carefully and answer each question completely.
• Demonstrate an understanding of procedural justice by examining the four pillars in context.

Helpful Links:

• Academic Integrity Guidelines
• Ethical Standards and Appropriate use of AI
• APA Style: Citation Help

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Directions

Step 1: Prepare to Answer the Questions

• Review the table in the first tutorial describing the four pillars of procedural justice: fairness, voice, transparency, and impartiality.
• Read Procedural Justice for Law Enforcement (Kunard & Moe, 2015) or download the PDF. COPSProceduralJustice.pdf
• Read Procedural Justice: Practical Tips for Courts (LaGratta, 2015) or download the PDF. CCIPracticalTips.pdf

Step 2: Write Your Touchstone

Your Touchstone will have six parts:

1. In your own words, briefly introduce procedural justice and define all four pillars (150–200 words).
2. Discuss at least two pillars of procedural justice and their relationship to police/community relations (200–250 words).
3. Discuss at least two pillars of procedural justice and their relationship to the perception of fairness from the court system (prosecutor, court, trial, etc.) (200-250 words).
4. Discuss at least two pillars of procedural justice and their relationship to controlling behavior in a correctional environment (prisons, jails, probation, parole, etc.). Here, you are not required to address all forms of corrections. You can discuss corrections in general, or you can focus on one element, such as prisons or probation (200–250 words). Note: You may choose which two pillars you write for parts 2–4, but please use each pillar at least once!
5. Describe your own thoughts on procedural justice. Do you believe it is enough to ensure true justice, or are broader systemic changes necessary (150-200 words)?
6. Provide a references page with the two articles from Step 1 above in APA format:

Kunard, L., and Moe, C. (2015). Procedural Justice for Law Enforcement: An Overview. Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

LaGratta, E.G., (2015). Procedural Justice: Practice Tips for Courts. Center for Court Innovation.

Sophia Learning, L.L.C. (2025). Introduction to Crime and Punishment. Introduction to Criminal Justice. Sophia Learning. https://app.sophia.org/tutorials/introduction-to-crime-and-punishment

Remember to include in-text citations for the tutorial and articles in your submission. Criminologists use American Psychological Association (APA) format for their research. Here is how to format an in-text APA citation for a Sophia tutorial:

(Introduction to Crime and Punishment, 2025)

Step 3: Review and Submit Your Touchstone

Check your paper against the rubric below to make sure you have met all the goals of the assignment. Once you are happy with it, you can submit it as a Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) file.

We hope this assignment will help you broaden and deepen your understanding of the criminal justice system and the complex intersection of justice with community relations and perceptions!

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Rubric

	Advanced (100%)	Proficient (85%)	Acceptable (75%)	Needs Improvement (50%)	Non-Performance
Definition and Overview Provides a definition of procedural justice and an overview of each of the four pillars. (10%)	Provides a compelling introduction to procedural justice and its four pillars (fairness, voice, transparency, impartiality), with accurate definitions.	Provides a foundational introduction to procedural justice and its four pillars with accurate definitions.	Provides a minimal introduction and defines the four pillars, though definitions may lack depth.	Lacks sufficient introduction or provides unclear definitions of the four pillars.	Does not provide an introduction or define the pillars of procedural justice.
Police/Community Relations Includes at least two procedural justice pillars and their relationship to police/community relations. (20%)	Thoroughly discusses at least two pillars, explaining their relevance to police and community relations with specific examples and details.	Discusses at least two pillars and their relevance to police and community relations, but examples or analysis could be more detailed.	Briefly discusses at least two pillars, but explanations lack depth or clear examples.	Does not sufficiently discuss the pillars or fails to relate them to police and community relations.	Does not address this aspect.
Perception of Fairness Includes at least two pillars of procedural justice and their relationship to the perception of fairness from the court system (prosecutor, court, trial, etc.). (20%)	Thoroughly discusses at least two pillars, explaining their relevance to the perception of fairness from the court system with specific examples and details.	Discusses at least two pillars and their relevance to the perception of fairness from the court system, but examples or analysis could be more detailed.	Briefly discusses at least two pillars, but explanations lack depth or clear examples.	Does not sufficiently discuss the pillars or fails to relate them to the perception of fairness from the court system.	Does not address this aspect.
Behavior in Correctional Environment Includes at least two pillars of procedural justice and their relationship to controlling behavior in a correctional environment (prisons, jails, probation, parole, etc.). (20%)	Thoroughly discusses at least two pillars, explaining their relationship to controlling behavior in a correctional environment with specific examples and details.	Discusses at least two pillars and their relationship to controlling behavior in a correctional environment, but examples or analysis could be more detailed.	Briefly discusses at least two pillars, but explanations lack depth or clear examples.	Does not sufficiently discuss the pillars or fails to relate them to controlling behavior in a correctional environment.	Does not address this aspect.
Summary Provides final thoughts on procedural justice. (10%)	Provides a thoughtful reflection on procedural justice.	Provides reflection, but final thoughts could be stronger.	Lacks depth or fails to provide thoughtful reflection.	Weakly reflects on procedural justice.	Does not address this aspect.
Inclusion of Four Pillars All four pillars of procedural justice are present in the submission. (10%)	All four pillars are mentioned in the assignment.	Three out of four pillars are mentioned in the assignment.	Two of the four pillars are mentioned in the assignment.	One of the four pillars are mentioned in the assignment.	None of the four pillars are provided in the assignment.
Conventions Submission follows conventions for standard written English and meets length requirements. (10%)	There are almost no errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization; all length and formatting requirements are met.	There are minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that do not impede readability; length and formatting requirements are nearly met.	There are frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that somewhat impede readability; length and formatting requirements are nearly met.	There are consistent errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that significantly impede readability; length and formatting requirements are not met.	Submission does not meet the minimum threshold for points to be awarded.