Trust in criminal justice and compliance with the law in Czech society: Testing the normative hypothesis on 1999 and 2011 samples

Abstract

Purpose: Our study is aimed at examining normative and instrumental aspects of compliance with the law in Czech society, namely trust in the police and its perceived legitimacy, personal morality, and perceived risk of sanctions. Design/Methods/Approach: The study is rooted in normative theory of compliance and empirically verifies the model of compliance as suggested by Jackson et al. (2011b) within Czech context, assuming an important role of trust in procedural fairness of the police in shaping compliant behaviour. The analysis is based on structural equation modelling with use of two representative datasets (European Social Survey, 2010; Bezpečnostní rizika, 1999). Findings: Both datasets revealed low levels of trust and perceived legitimacy of the Czech police. Nevertheless, the analysis indicates trust in police procedural fairness to be - in contrast to the perceived risk of sanctions - a strong factor in predicting compliance. The obligation to obey the law, shaped mainly by trust in procedural fairness, and personal morality appear to be comparatively the most important predictors of legal compliance in the Czech Republic. Research Limitations/Implications: The model was not significant for the 1999 dataset, probably due to poor internal consistency of several constructs. Practical Implications: Fair and respectful approach of police can substantially fuel its legitimacy and subsequently legitimacy of laws as well. Originality/Value: The role of trust in police, its legitimacy, and legal compliance appears salient in the Czech society despite the post-communist context with low levels of trust in institutions. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]