Beyond compliance: lived experiences of procedural justice for people in custody

Procedural justice theory states that people are more likely to comply with authority when they perceive decision making to be fair. While research within prison settings has frequently examined procedural justice in relation to institutional legitimacy and compliance, less attention has been given to how procedural justice is understood and experienced by people in custody. The present study explored individuals’ lived experiences of procedural justice in prison. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with men in custody across four medium-security prisons in Ireland (N = 12). Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify three interconnected themes. Procedural justice was experienced relationally through everyday interactions with prison staff, which communicated identity positioning and worth. Experiences of procedural justice were described as inconsistent and conditional, varying across staff members, prisons, and prisoner status. Finally, experiences of procedural justice were emotionally and relationally consequential, shaping trust in staff, engagement, and compliance behaviours in custody. The perception of procedural justice also facilitated reflection and personal change. These findings suggest that procedural justice should be understood not only as a governance strategy for fostering compliance and legitimacy but as a psychologically meaningful relational process shaping experiences of prison, with implications for clinical practice and prison management.