Abstract
The Ghanaian justice system has been reformed in response to a lack of public trust and confidence. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that negative perceptions continue to linger. This chapter explores the perceptions of citizens who have come into contact with the justice system and finds that the utilisation of the justice system is complex and multidimensional, and that interpretations of it are context-specific. Crime and dispute resolution are primarily pursued through informal avenues of justice. Recourse to the formal justice system appears to be reserved for serious crimes and disputes, for which the informal avenues prove ineffective. Residents who have used formal justice mechanisms tend to hold negative views due to the shortcomings they encounter during their contact with the law.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Appiah, K. (2013). Report on access to justice: Scoping study of the justice. Formal and Informal Sector in Ghana: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Benesh, S. C. (2006). Understanding public confidence in American courts. Journal of Politics, 68, 697–707. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2508.2006.00455.x
Benesh, C., & Howell, S. E. (2001). Confidence in the courts: A comparison of users and non-users. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 19, 199–214. https://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.437
Black, D. J. (1973). The mobilization of law. Journal of Legal Studies, 2(1), 125–149. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/724029?seq=1
Boateng, F. D. (2012). Public trust in the police: Identifying factors that shape trust in the Ghanaian police. (Doctoral dissertation, Washington State University).
Brody, R., & Sniderman, P. (1977). From life space to polling place: The relevance of personal concerns for voting behaviour. British Journal of Political Science, 7, 337–360. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007123400001022
Brown, B., & Benedict, W. R. (2002). Perceptions of the police: Past findings, methodological issues, conceptual issues and policy implications. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management, 25(3), 543–580. https://doi.org/10.1108/13639510210437032
Cao, L., & Zhao, S. J. (2005). Confidence in the police in Latin America. Journal of Criminal Justice, 33(5), 403–412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2005.06.009
Cheurprakobkit, S. (2000). Police-citizen contact and police performance: Attitudinal differences between Hispanics and non-Hispanics. Journal of Criminal Justice, 28(4), 325–336. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0047-2352(00)00042-8
Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (2nd ed.). Sage.
Dean, D. (1980). Citizen ratings of the police: The difference contact makes. Law and Policy Quarterly, 2, 445–471. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9930.1980.tb00225.x
Decker, S. H. (1981). Citizen attitudes toward the police: A review of past findings and suggestions for future policy. Journal of Police Science and Administration, 9, 80–87. Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=77072
Genn, H. (1999). Paths to justice: What people do and think about going to law. Hart Publishing.
Ghana Judiciary. (2013). Historical development of the courts after independence. The Judicial Service of Ghana. Retrieved April 4, 2014, from http://www.judicial.gov.gh/index.php/history/after-independence
Ghana Web. (2013). Police service most corrupt institution in Ghana. GhanaWeb. Retrieved June 27, 2012, from http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=279056
Gibson, J., Gregory, L., Caldeira, A., & Baird, V.A. (1998). On the llegitimacy of national high courts. American Political Science Review, 92(2), 343–358.
Graphic Online. (2019). Ghana Police take delivery of 250 body cameras. Graphic. Retrieved September 4, 2020, from https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-police-take-delivery-of-250-body-cameras.html#:~:text=The%20Ghana%20Police%20Service%20has,enhance%20police%20transparency%20and%20accountability
Jacob, H. (1971). Black and white perceptions of justice in the city. Law and Society Review, 5, 69–89. https://doi.org/10.2307/3052913
Jesilow, P., & Meyer, J. A. (2001). The effect of police misconduct on public attitudes: A quasi-experiment. Journal of Crime and Justice, 24, 109–121. https://doi.org/10.1080/0735648x.2001.9721619
Jesilow, P., Meyer, J., & Namazzi, N. (1995). Public attitudes towards police. American Journal of Police, 14(2), 67–88. https://doi.org/10.1108/07358549510102767
Lau, R., Brown, T., & Sears, D. (1978). Self-interest and civilians attitudes towards the Vietnam War. Public Opinion Quarterly, 42, 464–483. https://doi.org/10.1086/268474
Moy, P., Pfau, M., & Kahlor, L. (1999). Media uses and public confidence in democratic institutions. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 43(2), 137–158. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838159909364481
Nawaz, A., & Tankebe, J. (2018). Tracking procedural justice in stop and search encounters: Coding evidence from body-worn video cameras. Cambridge Journal of Evidence-based Policing, 2(3–4), 139–163. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41887-018-0029-z
Nukunya, G. K. (2003). Tradition and change in Ghana: An introduction to sociology. Ghana Universities Press.
Orr, M., & West, D. M. (2007). Citizens’ evaluations of local police: Personal experience or symbolic attitudes. Administration and Society, 8(6), 649–668. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095399706293989
Pring, C., & Vrushi, J. (2019). Global Corruption Barometer: Africa 2019. Transparency International.
Reisig, M. D., & Correia, M. E. (1997). Public evaluations of police performance: An analysis across three levels of policing. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management, 20, 311–325. https://doi.org/10.1108/13639519710169153
Reisig, M. D., & Parks, R. B. (2000). Experience, quality of life and neighbourhood context: A hierarchical analysis of satisfaction with police. Police Quarterly, 17(3), 607–629. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418820000094681
Ren, L., Cao, L., Lovrich, N., & Gaffney, M. (2005). Linking confidence in the police with the performance of the police: Community policing can make a difference. Journal of Criminal Justice, 33(1), 55–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2004.10.003
Schafer, J. A., Hueber, B. M., & Bynum, T. S. (2003). Citizen perception of police service: Race, neighbourhood context and community policing. Police Quarterly, 6, 440–468. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098611102250459
Skogan, W. G. (2009). Concern about crime and confidence in the police: Reassurance or accountability? Police Quarterly, 12(3), 301–311. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098611109339893
Smith, D. A., Graham, N., & Adams, B. (1991). Minorities and the police: Attitudinal and behavioral questions. In Race and criminal justice (pp. 22–35). Albany, NY: Harrow and Heston Publishers.
Smith, S. T. (2008). Judicial reform and its impact on the administration of justice: A monograph. Published by The Judicial Service of Ghana in collaboration with CUSO and the National Judicial Institute.
Sun, I. Y., & Wu, Y. (2006). Citizens perceptions of the courts: The impact of race, gender, and recent experience. Journal of Criminal Justice, 34, 457–467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2006.09.001
Tankebe, J. (2008a). Colonialism, legitimation, and policing in Ghana. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, 36(1), 67–84.
Tankebe, J. (2008b). Police effectiveness and police trustworthiness in Ghana: An empirical appraisal. Criminology & Criminal Justice, 8, 185–202. https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895808088994.
Tankebe, J. (2010). Public confidence in the police: Testing the effects of public experiences of police corruption in Ghana. The British Journal of Criminology, 50(2), 296–319. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azq001
Tankebe, J. (2013). In search of moral recognition? Policing and eudaemonic legitimacy in Ghana. Law and Social Inquiry, 38(3), 576–597. https://doi.org/10.1111/lsi.12025
Twum, H. (2011). Indispensable police. Media Fanbern: Ofankor-Accra.
Tyler, T. R. (1990). Why people obey the law. Yale University Press.
Tyler, T. R. (2001). Public trust and confidence in legal authorities: What do majority and minority members want from the law and legal institutions? Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 19(2), 215–235. https://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.438
Weitzer, R., & Tuch, S. A. (1999). Race, class and perceptions of discrimination by the police. Crime and Delinquency, 45(4), 494–507. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011128799045004006
Weitzer, R., & Tuch, S. A. (2005). Determinants of public satisfaction with the police. Police Quarterly, 8(3), 279–297. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098611104271106
Wenzel, J. P., Bowler, S., & Lanoue, D. J. (2003). The sources of public confidence in the state courts: Experience and institutions. American Political Research, 3(2), 191–211. https://doi.org/10.1177/1532673X02250295
Wilson, C. (2012). The public and the justice system: Attitudes, drivers and behaviour a literature review. Scottish Government Social Research.
Winfree, T., & Griffiths, C. (1971). Adolescent attitudes toward the police. In T. Ferdinand (ed.), Juvenile delinquency: Little brother grows up. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Worden, R. E., & McLean, S. J. (2017). Mirage of police reform: Procedural justice and police legitimacy. University of California Press.
Yin, R. K. (2011). Qualitative research from start to finish. The Guilford Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Adu-Poku, A.A. (2021). Perceptions of the Police and Courts in Ghana. In: Chan, H.C.(., Adjorlolo, S. (eds) Crime, Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71024-8_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71024-8_16
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-71023-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-71024-8
eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)