Control of Urban Crimes and Violations through the Lens of Procedural Justice: from Urban Order to Respect for Citizenship

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD in Criminal Law and Criminology, Law Department, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Moncton, Moncton, Canada.

Abstract

The occurrence of urban crimes and violations is a reality that has been a constant agenda for public authorities since the emergence of cities. In Iran, the control of these behaviors is designed based on a judicial framework and relies minimally on the voluntary support of citizens. The primary reason for this seems to be the lack of attention to the fairness of the decision-making process and the conduct of authorities, as well as a failure to align with values accepted by citizens. Public authorities' concerns about disruptions to the order they desire have diminished the willingness to implement new approaches, exacerbating the lack of theoretical grounding in control and weakening scientific efforts in this area. This article is developed using a descriptive-analytical method and seeks to answer the question of how much the process of controlling urban crimes and violations in Iran incorporates the elements of procedural justice (respect and fairness) and what the impact of implementing this strategy might be. Initial assessments indicate that the extent to which the control of urban crimes and violations in Iran benefits from the criteria of procedural justice is minimal, and its continuation will deepen the gap between citizens and public authorities, leading to a decrease in compliance with regulations. Implementing procedural justice significantly contributes to streamlining control and enhancing its quality.

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References

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Public Law Knowledge Quarterly
Volume 14, Issue 3 - Serial Number 49
September 2025
Pages 103-124

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History

  • Receive Date: 15 March 2025
  • Revise Date: 22 April 2025
  • Accept Date: 13 July 2025

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