Perceived Procedural Justice, Criminal Identity, and Self-Concept Among Incarcerated Persons: The Indirect Effect of Prison Social Climate

Incarcerated people’s perception of being treated procedurally fairly by prison staff discourages criminal behavior and fosters rehabilitation. This study examined the links between perceived procedural justice, prison social climate, and two facets of incarcerated people’s identity, that is, criminal social identity and self-concept, which were previously found to be associated with criminal behavior and reoffending, in a sample of 149 adult male incarcerated people. Results showed that high levels of perceived procedural justice were associated with a lower criminal social identity and a more positive self-concept. Also, two dimensions of the prison social climate, that is, Hold and Support and Inmates’ Cohesion, exerted significant indirect effects in these relationships, suggesting that the beneficial effects of procedural justice on incarcerated people’s self-views may be generated via improvements in these facets of social climate, which further deter the internalization of criminal social identity and foster positive self-perceptions.