Public Perceptions of Police Legitimacy in Indonesia: Determinants of Trust, Cooperation, and Compliance

Abstract

Police legitimacy influences how citizens perceive law enforcement authority and whether they are willing to cooperate with police institutions and comply with legal rules. In Indonesia, public perceptions of police legitimacy are shaped by experiences of police encounters, perceptions of fairness, institutional effectiveness, and broader social expectations. This study examines the factors associated with perceptions of police legitimacy and their implications for public cooperation. The study adopts a conceptual and qualitative analytical framework informed by procedural justice and legitimacy theory. It examines the relationship between perceived fairness, police effectiveness, institutional trust, and citizens' willingness to cooperate with law enforcement. The analysis suggests that legitimacy cannot be reduced to perceptions of crime-control effectiveness. Fair treatment, respectful communication, transparency, and consistency in decision-making are equally important dimensions of police legitimacy. The Indonesian context demonstrates the importance of understanding legitimacy within diverse social environments in which citizens may have different expectations of police authority. The study contributes to policing research by connecting procedural justice theory with Indonesian institutional and social conditions. It argues that strengthening legitimacy requires police organisations to combine effective law enforcement with fair, transparent, and respectful treatment of citizens.