The Influence of Police Attire, Gender, and Perceived Police Legitimacy in a Traffic Violation Case

Police attire (i.e., uniform, body armour, casual, or formal clothing) did not influence courtroom outcomes or perceptions of officer credibility in a traffic violation case. Agency policy regarding attire in this context may therefore consider prioritizing other relevant factors (e.g., practicality, officer comfort). Female officers were viewed as more credible than their male counterparts. Police departments may leverage this information to strategically assign officers in situations where perceived credibility might be particularly relevant. Participants who perceived the police as lacking legitimacy were less likely to convict a defendant and rated officers as less credible. Thus, efforts to enhance the perceived legitimacy of police officers and police practices could lead to higher levels of public trust, potentially resulting in more successful courtroom outcomes.