Trust and Confidence in Criminal Justice: A Review of the British Research Literature

Bradford, B., Jackson, J., Hough, M. and Farrall, S. (2009). ‘Trust and confidence in criminal justice: A review of the British research literature’, in Jokinen, A., Ruuskanen, E., Yordanova, M., Markov, D.

Ilcheva, M. (eds.), Review of Need: Indicators of Public Confidence in Criminal Justice

20 Pages Posted: 19 Nov 2008 Last revised: 11 Mar 2013

See all articles by Ben Bradford

Ben Bradford

University College London - Jill Dando Institute of Security and Crime Science

Jonathan Jackson

London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) - Department of Methodology

Mike Hough

South Bank University

Stephen Farrall

University of Sheffield

Date Written: November 18, 2008

Abstract

This paper reviews the British research literature on public trust and confidence in criminal justice. The review falls into three sections. The first section documents the ways in which trust, confidence and legitimacy have been defined and measured. The second section outlines (a) levels of public confidence and (b) trends and trajectories over the past few decades. The third examines the various explanations put forward for the roots and dynamics of public perceptions of criminal justice. In line with extant research in this area, the primary focus of the review is on the police.

Keywords: criminal justice, police, courts, trust, confidence, legitimacy, public opinion

JEL Classification: D63

Suggested Citation

Bradford, Ben and Jackson, Jonathan and Hough, Mike and Farrall, Stephen, Trust and Confidence in Criminal Justice: A Review of the British Research Literature (November 18, 2008). Bradford, B., Jackson, J., Hough, M. and Farrall, S. (2009). ‘Trust and confidence in criminal justice: A review of the British research literature’, in Jokinen, A., Ruuskanen, E., Yordanova, M., Markov, D. , Ilcheva, M. (eds.), Review of Need: Indicators of Public Confidence in Criminal Justice , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1303567 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1303567

Ben Bradford (Contact Author)

University College London - Jill Dando Institute of Security and Crime Science ( email )

35 Tavistock Square
London, WC1H 9EZ
United Kingdom

Jonathan Jackson

London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) - Department of Methodology ( email )

Houghton Street
London, WC2A 2AE
United Kingdom
+0044-207-955-7652 (Phone)

Mike Hough

South Bank University ( email )

Portland, OR
United States

Stephen Farrall

University of Sheffield ( email )

Crookesmoor Building, Conduit Road
Sheffield S10 1FL
United Kingdom

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