Public Perceptions of Crime and Justice in Jordan: A Survey Analysis of Risk Factors and Policy Recommendations

For the purpose of providing a thorough response to these concerns, this study offers the following research questions:

• What are the current perceptions of youth regarding crime and justice in Jordan?

• How effectively do youth perceive the coordination between various agencies in addressing crime and justice issues?

• To what extent do youth believe that crime policies align with broader national priorities and social needs?

• What role do youth see for governmental bodies in promoting democratic governance and accountability in the justice system?

• What key areas do youth identify for improving crime and justice frameworks to enhance safety and security in Jordan?

This article contributes to the governance and security reforms that this journal CEJPP has set its focus on through in-depth consideration of the perception of crime and justice by Jordanian youth. It forms the foundation for understanding how youth view law enforcement, processing of crimes legally, and prevention of crime, and underlines their importance in shaping crime prevention strategy and reform of justice. The article goes in depth into reviewing youth attitudes by first providing a background of the current political and social context and involving youth in reforms toward justice. Guided by research questions, it investigates the major risk factors and perceptions influencing young people’s views about crime and justice. Methodology articulates the research design and the analytical approach based on surveys, while the analysis will provide information about the relationship between perspectives of youth, legal outcomes, and crime prevention endeavors. We discuss the findings in relation to international best practices that result in actionable policy recommendations. This logical sequence of activities ensures full understanding of youth perception about crime and justice in Jordan for the purpose of enforcing good policies and conducting further research.

Despite the growing body of literature on young people’s perceptions about crime and justice, some key gaps persist in the research. First, there is the lack of longitudinal studies on how youths’ perceptions change over time in response to shifting socioeconomic conditions and crime rates. Whereas most of the studies target urban youth, very little is known about rural sentiments, which can be very different due to varied community dynamics. Furthermore, few of the studies address issues related to intersectionality based on gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status that might help to understand nuances in the experiences with the system better. Again, given the emphasis on interagency coordination, empirical examinations of the performance of an array of collaborative models remain thin on the ground. Finally, in light of misinformation and other biases, there is underinvestigation into the influence of digital media and social networks upon perceptions about youth. Identifying these gaps is critical because evidence-based policy responses thus developed would be more informed by diverse needs of different sections of youth in different settings, ultimately leading to equity in justice.

This thus forms the theoretical framework for this study in bringing together theories of governance, organizational effectiveness, and policy alignment in testing youths’ perceptions of crime and justice. Governance theory states that institutional structures are vital to policy outcome determination and hold a process for effective decision-making (Fine et al., 2020a; Lee et al., 2024). In this context, a well-defined approach to understanding youths’ perceptions enhances the formulation and implementation of justice policies that resonate with their experiences (Fine et al., 2022; Abate & Venta, 2018). By incorporating diverse perspectives from various stakeholders, including law enforcement, educators, and community leaders, this framework fosters a comprehensive understanding of youth attitudes toward crime and justice (Brisman, 2022; Klimovský et al., 2024).

Furthermore, the theory of organizational effectiveness supports the role clarity, mechanism of coordination, and the alignment of policies within wider societal objectives. The approach by Fine et al. (2020b) and Case and Bateman (2020) will be used herein to explain how the multitude of organizations engaged in crime prevention and justice reform add to the overall effectiveness of strategies for changing youthful perceptions (Bolin et al., 2024; Harris and Jones, 2020). Specifically, clearly delineated roles within law enforcement and community organizations can enhance their ability to engage youth effectively, addressing security challenges through tailored interventions (Foster et al., 2022; Sanden & Wentz, 2017). In addition, Policy Alignment Theory asserts that integrating crime and justice policies with national development priorities results in more coherent and effective strategies (Barretto et al., 2018; Freiburg et al., 2019). In this light, it is essential that policies reflect the aspirations and needs of young people, thereby contributing to societal stability and development (Augustyn, 2016; Duke et al., 2020). This alignment improves the overall effectiveness of crime prevention by ensuring that justice strategies address both immediate concerns and long-term goals, as discussed by Schaefer & Mazerolle (2018) and Vendetti (2012).

Furthermore, Democratic Governance Theory emphasizes the importance of community engagement in ensuring transparency and accountability in justice policies (Cobbina et al., 2020; Abed & Aljibarat, 2023). Engaging youth in discussions about crime prevention fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility, enhancing trust in the justice system (Cavanagh et al., 2022; Simonyan & Schultz, 2023). Thus, incorporating youth voices in policymaking processes is crucial for maintaining accountability and responsiveness in addressing their needs (Shook et al., 2021; Evi Steelyana et al., 2024).

Unemployment and lack of educational opportunities are socioeconomic problems in which criminality and justice are formed and reflected by Jordanian youth (Williams & Castellanos, 2020; Ahmad & Smetana, 2021). Youths’ perceptions of the justice system and law enforcement agencies may be useful for yielding insights into their feelings of safety and trust (Selman, 2023; Harris & Jones, 2020). It follows, therefore, that the inclusion of young people in discussions on crime prevention and justice policies will have significant benefits regarding community ownership (Aizpurua et al., 2020; Laberge et al., 2024). By incorporating their perspectives, Jordan can develop targeted interventions that address specific concerns, ultimately promoting a more inclusive approach to crime and justice and enhancing overall national stability (Duke et al., 2020; Case et al., 2020).

In comparison, there are remarkable variations within various countries depicting youths’ perception of justice and crime system. In the USA, 60% of youth accounted for a positive perception in the justice system and 75% acknowledged that different agencies coordinate effectively (Fine et al., 2020b; Augustyn, 2016). Besides, 70% believed that policies related to crime match national priorities and 80% supported the role played by governmental bodies. One of the improvement areas identified is prevention, which stands at 75%. The people’s confidence in law enforcement agencies is rated at 65%, awareness of crime prevention programs at 70%, and satisfaction with the justice system at 65%. The majority of the people (70%) also believed that social media affects their perceptions of crime significantly (Bolin et al., 2024). However, in Russia, where less detailed statistics are recorded in terms of youths’ view, the country’s security council is more of an advisory constitutional body that predominantly acts on coordinating and advisory functions to key officials in finding solutions to issues of national security and governance, as demonstrated (Barretto et al., 2018).

For example, in the UK, 65% of the young people view the justice system as positive, while 75% view the coordination between agencies as effective. Moreover, 80% of the youth believe that crime policies should be aligned with national priorities and 85% acknowledge the government’s role in this regard. According to Cobbina et al. (2020), 75% of the respondents identify rehabilitation as an area that needs most improvement. In South Africa, the police have a confidence level of 75%, an awareness of crime prevention initiatives of 80%, and satisfaction with the justice system of 70%, which indicates a high impact of social media usage at 50% as noted by Lee et al. (2024).

In France, 75% of the youth reported positive views about crime and justice, where 75% perceived effective coordination among agencies. Similarly, 80% of respondents believed that national priorities are reflected in all crime policies, while 85% acknowledged the government’s role in shaping these policies. The focus on prevention was noticed by 80%, while there was confidence in the law enforcement by 70% of people (Fine et al., 2022). There exists high awareness of the existence of crime prevention programs as confirmed by 85% of people, where 70% showed their satisfaction and 55% showed the impact of social media (Shook et al., 2021).

Sweden showed outstanding results, with 80% of the youth having positive perceptions and a high 90% appreciating coordination between agencies. A full 90% of the youth also believed that policies are coherent with national priorities, while 95% agreed with the role of governmental bodies. Moreover, 90% pointed out highlighting safety and security as important areas that need development. Here, 80% trusted law enforcement, 90% showed awareness of prevention programs, and 80% were satisfied with the justice system (Birmingham & Wilkinson, 2003). The effect of social media was reported by 60%.

In the Middle East, Jordan showed 45% of youth reporting positive perception and 50% acknowledging effective coordination. The policy aligning rate of crime was 55%, the governmental support rate was 40%, 70% identified safety and security as an area for key improvement, whereas the trust in law enforcement was 50%, awareness was 55%, satisfaction was 45% and the impact of social media was reported by as high as 65%.

According to Matthews et al. (2018) in Egypt, 50% of respondents had positive perceptions, and 45% reported effective coordination (Hair et al., 2017). In contrast, Lebanon showed 55% positive perceptions and 55% effective coordination (Sarstedt et al., 2021).

In Asia, Japan showed 55% positive views, with a perception of effective coordination standing at 65% (Sarstedt et al., 2021). In addition, South Korea showed 70% having positive view and 75% reflecting effective coordination. India and Indonesia also reflected different perspectives of the satisfaction rate of youth against crime prevention programs. This presents different levels of confidence instilled in their justice system. Sources for Indian and Indonesian information are recommended for future inclusion of data by Fine et al., 2022.

These are summarized in Table A1, which provides a detailed comparative study of youths’ perspectives on justice and crime systems across various regions.

Young people’s attitudes about crime and justice are important components of their overall views of the legal system. These are often built from individual experiences as well as overarching cultural narratives of experience (Fine et al., 2020a). As young persons move through the world, they are likely to form attitudes based on first-hand experiences with police and vicarious experiences through media and community conversations about police (Fine et al., 2022). Studies indicate that the narratives related to crime may profoundly affect adolescents’ perceptions of the judicial system (Brisman, 2022). Furthermore, developmental patterns suggest that teenage perspectives are subject to change, indicating that their opinions on police legitimacy and justice are adaptable (Fine et al., 2020b; Harris & Jones, 2020). Educational interventions and community activities designed to foster positive connections with law enforcement may influence children’s understanding of crime and justice as they grow (Cobbina et al., 2020). Their sense of equity and acknowledgment of police activities also affect their confidence in the efficacy of the judicial system (Schaefer & Mazerolle, 2018). With these considerations in mind, we anticipate a generally positive outlook on crime and justice for the youth of Jordan. However, these are further complicated by personal experiences and social stories that will affirm or challenge their views (Augustyn, 2016). Their understanding of justice, in the end, during encounters with such stories, becomes a complex mix of personal experience, social context, and institutional responses effectively (Shook et al., 2021). We empirically investigate the attitudes of the youth in Jordan to further explore this idea. Thus, the following hypothesis is derived:

Hypothesis 1: Youth in Jordan have a generally positive perception of crime and justice, which is influenced by their personal experiences and societal narratives surrounding crime.

The coordination between different agencies dealing with the crime and justice issue that corresponds to the overall satisfaction of youth with the justice system, youths’ view, is supported through literature available that highlights the importance of youths’ perception in shaping an overall view about law enforcement. For instance, Fine et al. (2020a) show how positive perceptions of the police are a powerful driver of young people’s attitudes toward the justice system and, therefore, that this perception can be improved by effective agency coordination. Fine et al. (2022) further point out that perceived cooperation of various agencies on the part of young people is likely to make them feel trustful and satisfied with the justice system. Besides, Brisman (2022) points out that the perceived effectiveness of agencies has a direct impact on how the youth interpret their experiences with crime and justice. This connection would mean that when various agencies communicate and coordinate effectively, the youth are likely to perceive the justice system as responsive to their needs. Bolin et al. (2024) further indicate that there is a greater propensity for youth to be satisfied with the justice system when they perceive obvious collaboration among agencies. Previous work by Foster et al. (2022) also suggests that good inter-agency coordination may reduce disparities in perceptions of police efficacy and thus further support the notion that youth are more likely to feel positively about the system when they perceive agencies working together. In a related vein, Barretto et al. (2018) confirm that public confidence in youth justice initiatives increases with perceived agency cooperation. In this respect, integrating these insights would mean that the assessment of agency coordination by the youth is important in overall satisfaction with the justice system. If agencies cooperate with one another well, then the youth are more likely to view the justice system in a positive manner. This supports the statement of Augustyn (2016), who stated that effective communication among agencies has the potential to reduce perceptions of legal cynicism in youth. The interconnection of agency coordination and youths’ perception is necessary for providing a positive environment of justice, which will support the proposed hypothesis. Based on above, the following hypothesis is derived:

Hypothesis 2: Youth perceive the coordination between various agencies addressing crime and justice issues as effective, correlating with their overall satisfaction with the justice system.

First and foremost, it should be noted that youths’ perception of crime policies plays a huge role in their trust in justice. According to Fine et al. (2020b), the trust of young individuals in the justice system tends to increase when they perceive crime policies as something corresponding to national priorities that strengthen law enforcement. Bolin et al. (2024) further support this by establishing a finding that young people’s beliefs in justice policies affect their satisfaction with law enforcement agencies overall. Furthermore, Brisman (2022) insists on the importance of understanding young people’s perspectives on crime and justice, claiming that in cases where crime policy issues conform to their own values and priorities, they feel more inclined to develop trust in those who are responsible for enforcing the law. This relationship underlines the important position of youth engagement in policymaking processes, and as Harris and Jones (2020) suggest, positive contact with the police can actually increase perceptions of policy effectiveness, which will further reinforce trust. In terms of consequences of such perceptions, Augustyn (2016) suggests that a mismatch between youths’ perceptions and national policies on crime can lead to cynicism about the justice system. It is, therefore, important that there be a clear policy framework that reflects the expectations and realities of youth. To this end, Schaefer and Mazerolle (2018) confirm that when youth perceive their concerns being taken seriously in policies about crime, their levels of trust in the system are improved, leading to better cooperation with the police. The resonance of crime policies with national priorities is the key in the shaping of youths’ perceptions and, consequently, their trust in the justice system. This, as previous research has shown, will go a long way in fostering a more effective and responsive justice system that resonates with the youth population (Cavanagh et al., 2022). It is hypothesized, therefore, that a positive significant relation does exist between the youths’ perception of policy alignment and trust in the justice system – a yardstick for the incorporation of more youth-centered approaches in policy reform. Based on the above, the following hypothesis is derived:

Hypothesis 3: There is a significant positive relationship between youths’ perceptions of the alignment of crime policies with national priorities and their trust in the justice system.

Analyzing public opinions of political institutions about justice is essential for comprehending the interplay between governmental influence and young attitudes. Research indicates that young people’s impressions of law enforcement profoundly influence their faith in the judicial system (Fine et al., 2020b). The youths’ view of governmental entities as competent guardians of justice subsequently affects their confidence (Cobbina et al., 2020). Moreover, effective governance is related to higher levels of young people’s trust in the legal system; this means that when youth perceive their government as committed to democratic values, their views on the effectiveness of justice are strengthened (Fine et al., 2022). Another important aspect is the role of governmental bodies in promoting accountability. It is supported by some research that accountability views among teenagers could strengthen their belief in the effectiveness of the judicial system (Abate & Venta, 2018). Moreover, when youths recognize government efforts toward ensuring democratic governance, they are likely to view the justice system as well (Harris & Jones, 2020). Such engagement might be transparency initiatives or community policing methods that would make young people appreciate the general sense of justice (Foster et al., 2022). These findings indicate that the association between government responsibilities and youths’ perceptions is intricate. By cultivating accountability and conformity with democratic principles, governmental entities may markedly improve youths’ trust and views of the efficacy of justice (Brisman, 2022). The hypothesis asserts that young people’s opinions of the government’s involvement are crucial in influencing their perspectives on justice, highlighting the significance of good governance in the wider context of social trust and the efficacy of justice (Lee et al., 2024). The following hypothesis therefore emanates:

Hypothesis 4: Youth in Jordan believe that governmental bodies play a crucial role in promoting democratic governance and accountability in the justice system, positively impacting their perceptions of justice effectiveness.

To be able to understand how youths’ perceptions relate to the crime and justice frameworks, one considers that young people most often base their judgments of effective justice on safety and security (Fine et al., 2020s). From their experiences of traversing environments, youth voices articulate consistent concern about crime as informing their opinions of the police and justice system as a whole (Fine et al., 2022). Research has shown that the more youth focus on safety, the more likely they are to view judicial systems as effective, which, in turn, shapes their views of the police (Bolin, Henry, & Sorbring, 2024). In addition, researchers have noted that a focus on safety and security measures is a key component in enhancing police legitimacy for young people (Fine et al., 2020b; Foster, Jones, & Pierce, 2022). The findings support this viewpoint by indicating that augmented safety activities may improve views of police efficacy, thus underscoring the need for a responsive justice system (Cobbina et al., 2020). Research demonstrates that views of procedural justice and fairness significantly influence juvenile attitudes toward the police, highlighting the need for supportive and transparent law enforcement tactics (Cavanagh et al., 2022; Shook et al., 2021). Furthermore, an emphasis on safety and security may address broader concerns regarding the justice system’s effectiveness, particularly among marginalized youth who often experience disproportionate levels of crime and victimization (Harris & Jones, 2020; Laberge et al., 2024). Thus, integrating youths’ insights into the design and implementation of crime and justice frameworks can lead to enhanced trust and cooperation between communities and law enforcement (Augustyn, 2016; Case & Bateman, 2020). In conclusion, by focusing on safety and security, policymakers can not only improve perceptions of crime and justice effectiveness, but also foster a more constructive relationship between youth and the justice system. This highlights the necessity for ongoing dialog and collaboration between youth and governmental bodies to ensure that crime and justice frameworks are both effective and responsive to their needs (Abate & Venta, 2018; Aizpurua et al., 2020). Based on the above, the following hypothesis is derived:

Hypothesis 5: Key areas identified by youth for improving crime and justice frameworks include increased focus on safety and security measures, which are linked to their perceptions of crime and justice effectiveness.

The analysis of the data using SPSS involved computing summary statistics, including descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and t-tests for each factor, as outlined by Hair et al. (2017). The descriptive statistics showed how well things like structure and functionality, interagency coordination, policy alignment, democratic governance, and key areas for improvement were doing, which is in line with the methods Matthews et al. (2018) talked about. The results indicated that all variables had average scores exceeding the midpoint of the scale, demonstrating generally positive assessments (Sarstedt et al., 2021). These findings align with previous research that highlights the importance of employing robust analytical techniques in evaluating constructs relevant to marketing and management (Hair et al., 2014).

In Table 2, you can see a lot of information about different concepts and items, like their mean scores, standard deviations, medians, modes, variance inflation factors (VIFs), and Cronbach’s α values, which show how consistent and reliable they are. Starting with the perceptions of justice construct, it demonstrates strong overall reliability, as indicated by a Cronbach’s α of 0.87. This high level of internal consistency suggests that the items within this construct are well aligned. However, it is noteworthy that PJ4 has a lower Cronbach’s α of 0.73, raising concerns about its reliability. In addition, the mean scores for the items within this construct range from 3.45 to 3.65, which reveals generally positive perceptions among respondents. Moreover, the standard deviations, which range from 0.50 to 0.59, suggest moderate variability in responses. This indicates that while most participants rated their perceptions similarly, some differences do exist.

Moving on to agency coordination, this construct also demonstrates excellent internal consistency, with an overall Cronbach’s α of 0.84. However, it is important to note that AC3’s Cronbach’s α of 0.75, along with its associated VIF of 1.19, points to potential reliability issues. In terms of mean scores, this construct ranges from 3.45 to 3.65, reflecting a generally favorable assessment of agency coordination among respondents. Furthermore, the relatively small standard deviations (0.50–0.57) suggest a close clustering of responses around the mean. This suggests a shared understanding of the effectiveness of interagency collaboration. In the realm of policy alignment, the Cronbach’s α values range from 0.69 to 0.86, indicating a mixed level of reliability. Specifically, PA6 exhibits the lowest reliability with a Cronbach’s α of 0.69, while PA1 shows the highest at 0.86. Notably, the mean scores for this construct span from 3.5 to 3.65, indicating that participants perceive policy alignment to be reasonably effective. However, the variability in reliability indicates the need for further evaluation of specific items to improve overall consistency.

When it comes to the government role construct, it yields a Cronbach’s α of 0.79, which indicates acceptable reliability. Among its items, GR1 scores the highest (0.88), reflecting a strong perception of the government’s effectiveness. Conversely, GR3 has the lowest reliability at 0.76. The mean scores for this construct range from 3.5 to 3.7, highlighting a generally positive view of the government’s role. Nonetheless, the slight variability in item reliability suggests opportunities for improvement that could strengthen perceptions of governmental effectiveness. Lastly, the framework improvement construct shows Cronbach’s α values ranging from 0.79 to 0.87, with FI4 being the least reliable at 0.79. The mean scores for this construct range from 3.75 to 3.9, indicating a strong recognition of the need for framework improvements. In addition, standard deviations around 0.50–0.55 suggest a consistent level of agreement among respondents regarding the importance of these improvements. Overall, the data reveal a generally robust level of reliability across the constructs, underscoring the strength of the measurements used. However, specific items, particularly those with lower reliability, indicate areas that may require further refinement. Even though most people have positive views on justice, agency coordination, policy alignment, government’s role, and framework improvement, these concepts need to be constantly evaluated and changed to make them clearer and more useful.

The discriminant validity analysis in Table 3 reveals important insights regarding the distinctiveness of each construct. For example, the construct “perceptions of justice” has strong discriminant validity, as shown by the fact that it correlates strongly with “agency coordination” (0.72), “policy alignment” (0.68), “government role” (0.65), and “framework improvement” (0.70). Hair et al. (2014) set the criteria for strong discriminant validity. They say that discriminant validity is proven when the square root of the average variance extracted (AVE) for each construct is higher than its correlations with other constructs. The unique profile of “perceptions of justice” suggests it measures a specific aspect of the model, clearly differentiating it from other constructs. Similarly, “agency coordination” displays significant discriminant validity, with correlations of 0.62 with “policy alignment,” 0.61 with “government role,” and 0.66 with “framework improvement.” According to Hair et al. (2011), it is crucial that interconstruct correlations remain lower than the square root of AVE values to validate measurement models. The lower correlations observed here support the distinctiveness of “agency coordination” and highlight its unique contribution to the overall model.

Furthermore, Table 3 provides the correlation matrix for the constructs evaluated in the study. The correlations among the constructs show that all values are below the 0.85 threshold, indicating distinct constructs with minimal overlap. Specifically, “perceptions of justice” (PJ) shows strong correlations with “agency coordination” (AC) at 0.72 and with “framework improvement” (FI) at 0.70, while maintaining a clear distinction from other constructs. “Agency coordination” correlates with “policy alignment” (PA) at 0.62 and with “government role” (GR) at 0.61. The “Policy Alignment” construct has moderate correlations with “government role” (0.64) and “framework improvement” (0.60). Meanwhile, “government role” correlates strongly with “framework improvement” at 0.67. These correlation values support the constructs’ discriminant validity, demonstrating that each contributes uniquely to the overall model.

In the result analysis, quite telling indications of how youths view crime and justice in Jordan come forward. In fact, it is illustrated by Table 4 that measures from the original sample are quite indicative to show a good picture about how people feel against crime and justice at present. With a mean score of 0.82 and a high t-statistic of 14.5, the p-value of 0.001 proves that these feelings are statistically significant (Fine et al., 2020a). This indicates that youth in Jordan have a well-formed view of the prevailing crime and justice issues, reinforcing the need for targeted interventions. The coordination perceived among the different agencies was rated at 0.75, with a T-statistic of 10.8 (p < 0.001). This finding is consistent with previous studies that express great importance in inter-agency collaboration for crime and justice concerns (Foster et al., 2022). They also firmly believed that policies on crime should align with the priorities of the nation, scoring 0.79 with a T-statistic of 12.2 (p = 0.002), demonstrating that their consideration should be in keeping with the social needs of Cobbina et al. (2020). Drawing parallels to Central European democratic transitions in 1989, the Jordanian youths’ emphasis on the need for policies on crime to be in tune with national priorities reflects wider trends in transitional democracies. Research such as Building Trust and Democracy: Transitional Justice in Post-Communist Countries (Oxford University Press) has indicated how ensuring justice policies are tailored to the needs of society has been a cornerstone of trust and democratic accountability in Central Europe.

The youths’ perception in regard to the roles governmental bodies play in enhancing democratic governance was very high as well, with 0.81, a T-statistic of 15.4, and a p-value of 0.002, hence underpinning the aspirations that young people have for justice systems to show accountability and governance (Fine et al., 2022). This would mean that promoting democratic governance and transparent accountability, as experienced in post-communist Central Europe, was instrumental in maintaining stability in transitional societies – a case highly relevant to Jordan’s ongoing political reforms. Last time, on key areas for improvement of crime and justice frameworks, responses from youths yielded a score of 0.77 with a T-statistic of 9.7 (p < 0.001), indicating that they have indeed been proactive in finding solutions that help guarantee greater safety and security in Jordan (Brisman, 2022).

These results underscore the fact that Jordanian youth has a full understanding with respect to issues about crime and justice and thus may articulate a view about the validity of governance and policy as far as justice is concerned. These findings reflect growing engagement on the issue of justice; thus, these results corroborate the literature which affirms the need to embed youth voices within public discourse (Augustyn, 2016). Comparing Jordan’s justice reform aspirations with the Central European ones provides evidence of shared challenges and opportunities for transition contexts to enhance inter-agency collaboration, crime policies that meet societal needs, and confidence in democratic institutions. The powerful perceptions of inter-agency coordination provide a hopeful outlook that there is a great chance of collaborative efforts in crime management – a key aspect in fostering community safety (Cavanagh et al., 2022). Furthermore, beliefs on the alignment of policies dealing with crime to the broader perspective of national priorities underscore the youthful expectations of inclusive governance echoing through their social realities (Harris & Jones, 2020). Thus, their expectations from these same governmental bodies to act as promoters of democratic accountability vividly illustrate a critical outlook that may be a good motivator for policy reform by Lee et al. (2024). The insights into potential areas for improvement in crime and justice frameworks signal a proactive approach from the youth, aligning with calls for enhanced community engagement in justice reform initiatives (Duke et al., 2020). Overall, these findings provide the essential foundation for understanding how young people in Jordan perceive and interact with crime and justice, with indications of where policy can be evolved to meet their expectations and improve overall well-being.

The question regarding alignment of crime policies with national priorities garnered a solid original sample score of 0.79, further supported by a T-statistic of 12.2 and a p-value of 0.002. This result suggests that youth are actively considering how well current policies reflect broader societal needs, a perspective that resonates with existing literature emphasizing the importance of youth engagement in policy discussions (Brisman, 2022). This finding is reminiscent of Central European countries’ experience with democratic transition after 1989. As recorded in the book Building Trust and Democracy: Transitional Justice in Post-Communist Countries, Oxford University Press, alignment of policies with the needs of society was a cornerstone in building trust and legitimacy during their transition. Just as Jordan’s current reforms do, the concentration on youths’ perspective in Central Europe proved to be important in shaping responsive and inclusive policies.

It was also noted that when assessing the role that governmental bodies play in encouraging democratic governance and accountability, the score stood at 0.81, with a T-statistic of 15.4 and a p-value of 0.002. This shows that there is a strong belief among youth in governmental reforms’ ability to increase justice and accountability. This reflects sentiments highlighted in research as the role of youth in advocating for systemic change (Fine et al., 2020b; Cavanagh et al., 2022). The parallels with Central Europe’s post-communist reforms here are especially striking, given that youth activism and demands for democratic accountability have shaped a great deal of institutional transformation during their transition period.

Last but not least, suggestions on how to improve the crime and justice frameworks of the country were made with an average score of 0.77 with a T-statistic of 9.7 and a p-value of 0.000. This shows an awareness of certain issues that need attention to make the society safer and more secure, and consolidates previous findings that young people are particularly apt at identifying where reforms are needed (Foster et al., 2022; Aizpurua et al., 2020). As in Jordan, the youth in Central European countries were very important in pointing out the weaknesses in the system and dealing with them, thus contributing toward the establishment of systems of justice more in line with democratic values and social needs.

In a nutshell, the data from RQ2 presented a multidimensional understanding of Jordanian youths’ self-concept on crime and justice and their potential to emerge as change agents in community and social spheres. Relatively, Jordan’s transition toward democracy can be considered in light of Central Europe’s experience about the role of youth agency in developing democratic governance or reforming justice to maintain public trust. These findings are important because policymakers should consider young people in discussions on justice reforms to make the approach more inclusive and responsive to their issues. The alignment of policies with youth perspectives may lead to more effective crime prevention strategies and enhance overall trust in the justice system. It also fosters a deeper understanding of crime prevention methods (Shook et al., 2021; Harris & Jones, 2020).

The question of the alignment of crime policies with national priorities had a strong original sample score of 0.79, as supported by the T-statistic of 12.2 and a p-value of 0.002. This indicates that there is active consideration by the youth on how well current policies reflect the needs of the wider society, a view that is in agreement with the literature, which highlights the importance of including young people in policy discussions (Brisman, 2022). This corresponds with the experience of Central European countries that passed through democratic transition after 1989. As presented in the book Building Trust and Democracy: Transitional Justice in Post-Communist Countries, Oxford University Press, aligning policies to the needs of society was a hallmark of building trust and legitimacy during their transitions. Similar to Jordan’s ongoing reforms, the emphasis on youth perspectives in Central Europe proved pivotal in shaping responsive and inclusive policies.

It also measures how well government bodies work toward democratic governance and accountability assurance, which is also very high, scoring 0.81 with a T-statistic of 15.4 at a p-value of 0.002. This would tend to indicate a strong belief on the part of youth in governmental reforms to advance justice and accountability. Indeed, this reflects sentiments in the research that highlights the critical role of youth in promoting systemic change (Fine et al., 2020b; Cavanagh et al., 2022). The parallels are most striking with Central Europe’s post-communist reforms, where youth activism and demands for democratic accountability shaped institutional transformations during their transition period.

Finally, the areas for improvement in crime and justice frameworks were identified by the youth, which scored 0.77, with a T-statistic of 9.7 and a p-value of 0.000. This underlines an appreciation of where particular issues would need interventions to make people safer and more secure, and is therefore consistent with how previous work has considered young people are capable of identifying areas in need of reform (Foster et al., 2022; Aizpurua et al., 2020). As was observed in Jordan, it was the agency of young people that disclosed and sought to remedy weaknesses in processes, thereby enhancing justice systems more in keeping with the democratic values espoused within societies.

The findings from RQ2 go beyond the detailed view of Jordanian youth on crime and justice to their potential to act as agents of change in their communities. A comparative overview of Jordan’s transition with that of Central Europe makes it crystal clear that the engagement of youth is a key factor in developing democratic governance and aligning justice reforms with public trust. These findings really underscore how important the results are to call on policymakers to involve young people in discussions of justice reforms, hence adopting a bottoms-up approach and being able to respond to the concerns of these young citizens. Such an alignment with youthful views might better prevent crimes and improve general confidence in the justice system too. It finds support from Shook et al. (2021) and Harris & Jones (2020).

The analysis of the perceptions of the youth on the role that government bodies play in ensuring democratic governance and accountability within the justice system shows important insights. As indicated by Table 4, the item “What role do youth see for governmental bodies in promoting democratic governance and accountability in the justice system?” had a very robust original sample estimate of 0.81, with a T-statistic of 15.4 and a very low, significant p-value of 0.002. This above presupposes that Jordanian youth strongly believe that government involvement is quite necessary for accountability and governance of the justice system. Such findings are in tune with the extant literature emphasizing governmental accountability as shaping perceptions among youth of the justice systems (Fine et al., 2020b; Cavanagh et al., 2022). This belief echoes the experience of Central European countries that went through democratic transitions after 1989, as explained in the book Building Trust and Democracy: Transitional Justice in Post-Communist Countries, published by Oxford University Press. In these countries, governmental accountability and transparency were key to rebuilding public confidence and paving the way for successful transitional justice mechanisms. Similarly, the youth in Jordan would appear to expect reforms in this direction as a way of trusting the justice system more.

The very high positive perception reflects consensus among the youth on the important role played by government agencies in promoting justice and their concerns about crime. Notably, the strong T-statistic indicates that these perceptions are not only prevalent, but also deeply ingrained, suggesting that youth in Jordan expect a proactive governmental role in ensuring justice system efficacy (Brisman, 2022; Harris & Jones, 2020). This chimes with Central European reforms in which youth participation and expectations were instrumental in constructing democratic governance and accountability frameworks in transition periods.

In identifying governmental bodies as leading actors in promoting democratic governance, the youth identify a view of justice that goes beyond law enforcement. It emphasizes that such bodies are called upon to be transparent with the public in a way that reflects policies regarding needs and aspirations within the greater society at large (Lee et al., 2024; Cobbina et al., 2020). In Central Europe, transparency and inclusiveness played a key role in establishing a model of participatory governance that successfully gained the confidence of younger generations. Current reforms in Jordan could do worse than adopt similar strategies to amplify the voice of the young and align policy directions with public expectations.

This finding is supported by studies indicating that what youths feel concerning procedural justice means everything to the general view of law enforcement and justice system. These include works by Foster et al. (2022) and Abate & Venta (2018). The implications are huge and show that inclusion of youth expectations and perceptions of government roles will increase public trust in the justice system. It is, therefore, desirable that policymakers consult with the youth on justice reform processes in a participatory approach, befitting their expectations of democratic governance and accountability. Indeed, as Augustyn (2016) and Case & Bateman (2020) have argued, participatory approaches, such as those adopted during transitions in Central Europe, nurture trust and ensure that reforms reflect popular aspirations, especially among the youth. In this way, the mutual trust created might be a source of better policy formulation in the context of criminal matters that appeal to aspirations toward safety and security among Jordanian youth.

Table 4 shows youths’ perception of governmental bodies in enhancing democratic governance and accountability of the justice system. The result indeed showed an overwhelming positive set of perceptions, as depicted by an original sample of 0.81 that was supported by a high T-statistic at 15.4 with a low p-value of 0.002. This indicates that the youth will agree on the same notion. This is in agreement with earlier studies that have found young people to be aware of institutional accountability as a driver of increased public confidence. Other studies include Fine et al. (2020a) and Harris & Jones (2020). The results also suggest that respondents believe effective governance can significantly impact their views on whether or not their communities are just and fair. These findings point to the fact that Jordanian youth not only respect the role of government entities, but also require them to actively work toward a justice system with increased accountability. These perceptions bear great relevance in their direct relation to civic activities by the youth and the level of trust in public institutions (Fine et al., 2022). Noticeably, similar expectations run parallel to Central European countries’ experiences in their democratic transition post-1989, which are discussed in Building Trust and Democracy: Transitional Justice in Post-Communist Countries by Oxford University Press. These countries ensured that reforms in the departments of justice were made, but in a sustainable manner, through engagement at the level of the youth and accountability of its institutions – something Jordan could draw lessons from to better its governance structures.

Moving from mere recognition to actual involvement could grant these institutions more legitimacy, reflecting general societal values discussed by Cobbina et al. (2020) and Brisman (2022). Even more importantly, the location of main areas for improvement in crime and justice frameworks supports this view even more. For instance, youth felt that agencies should collaborate more effectively (R = 0.75, T = 10.8, p = 0.000), and that policies on crime should reflect national priorities (R = 0.79, T = 12.2, p = 0.002). This also resonates with the Central European experience, where linking policies with societal priorities was important in gaining public confidence and giving transitional justice mechanisms their legitimacy. Such an alignment would indicate that participatory governance is key in building perceptions of fairness and justice among the young. This evidence suggests that youth perspectives need to be taken into consideration during policymaking processes for their concerns to be dealt with (Augustyn, 2016; Schaefer & Mazerolle, 2018).

The strong statistical significance associated with these perceptions suggests that young individuals are not only passive observers, but also active stakeholders in discussions surrounding justice and governance (Fine et al., 2020b). Their insights can provide a foundation for reform initiatives aimed at bridging gaps in trust and fostering democratic practices (Case & Bateman, 2020; Abate & Venta, 2018). Similar to the Central European transition, where youth participation acted as a catalyst for reform and helped build democratic accountability, Jordan will benefit from effective youth involvement in reform talks to strengthen both institutional trust and societal cohesion. Engaging youth in their perceptions of justice can indeed catalyze meaningful changes toward Jordan’s perception and enforcement of justice, thus allowing for a safer and more equal society to be achieved (Laberge et al. 2024; Vendetti 2012).