Assessing legal socialisation in a youth sample: procedural justice, legitimacy, and popular discontent in Nigeria

Several studies have indicated that the experiences of young people with the police, judicial systems, and other legal entities, whether through direct or vicarious means, often establish the basis for their perceptions of the law and legal authorities in their later years. As a concept, the process of legal socialisation pertains to the development of a conscious relationship with the law, wherein individuals acquire law related values and attitudes, regardless of their demographic characteristics. While legal socialisation has received significant academic attention in developed West, it remains largely underexplored in Nigeria, and by extension other developing contexts. Using cross-sectional survey data obtained from a sample of young people in Southern Nigeria, this study examines whether young people’s legal socialisation influences their perceptions and attitudes towards police institutions and officials. The findings indicate that young people are more inclined to report legal cynicism and lower ratings of police legitimacy they perceive the police to be abusing their power, procedurally unfair, and corrupt. The results suggest that several factors that can enhance the relationship between police officers and young people, with the manner in which police treat young people during interactions being a critical component. Thus, the police may not be able to regulate the prevalence of criminal activities or have sufficient resources available to help deal with crime and satisfy community demands, they possess the power to determine the quality of interactions with young people within their community. The implications of these findings are discussed.