Introduction

Abstract

This volume of essays initiates an interdisciplinary exchange between moral philosophers, lawyers and legal theorists, social psychologists, and criminologists on the topic of procedural justice in legal contexts – the procedures that officials such as judges, tribunal members, administrative officials, police and correctional authorities should use as a matter of justice when they apply and enforce the law or exercise discretion vested in them by the law. The introductory chapter accordingly provides an overview of some key concepts and relevant background literature on procedural justice in law, legal theory, social psychology, and philosophy. A central finding of the empirical research in social psychology is that people’s understanding of procedural justice is shaped by relational factors, such as the attitudes expressed by authorities in interacting with them. The chapter discusses this empirical research. It also explains the contribution that relational theory in ethics can make to understanding the normative significance of the relational factors identified in the empirical research. The chapter also provides a brief overview of the structure of the volume and summarises the contents of each chapter.