What should officers remember when acting as enforcers of the law?

• A. To follow orders without question.
• B. To treat every violation as a serious felony.
• C. To apply the four pillars of procedural justice even while enforcing laws.
• D. To avoid any community involvement.

Answer: (C)

When officers enforce laws, they should apply procedural justice by honoring four core practices: give the person a real opportunity to tell their side (voice), make decisions based on facts and neutrality (neutrality), treat everyone with dignity and respect (respect), and demonstrate legitimate authority through fair, transparent, and accountable behavior (trust). This approach matters because people are more likely to accept and comply with the law when they see the process as fair, even if they disagree with the outcome. It reduces tension, increases cooperation, and helps the public view policing as legitimate rather than as arbitrary power.

Backing this up, ignoring community input or failing to be transparent undermines trust and cooperation; treating every violation as a serious felony can appear punitive and biased, eroding legitimacy; and simply following orders without questions sacrifices accountability and due process. Emphasizing procedural justice keeps enforcement effective while preserving public confidence and safety.