Using Storytelling to Establish Justice
Authors:   , Sautner Kerry , Bureau W. Edward 
Published: July 2021

This study explored the narrative of new Philadelphia Police recruits' experiences within a training program that used storytelling techniques to positively influence their knowledge and assumptions about social justice and fairness. Prior research has suggested that storytelling can be an effective way to engage learners in understanding different perspectives, therein allowing individuals to gain empathy for others and build legitimacy within the justice system. Research on activists for social justice education, experts on community engagement in policing, and scholars in the study of storytelling for adult learning make up the conceptual framework of research. The purpose of this narrative research was to understand how storytelling techniques used at the National Constitution Center's (NCC's) Policing in a More Perfect Union (PIAMPU) training program influence police recruits' knowledge and assumptions about social justice and fairness. This study was conducted though narrative inquiry, which is best-suited for capturing the lived experiences of recruits in the training process and determining whether that process has influenced recruits. The study addressed the following questions: (1) What is the nature of the police recruits' response to storytelling techniques used at the museum to teach individual rights to law enforcement officers? (2) How do the police recruits who have participated in the PIAMPU training program describe how training has influenced their understanding of social justice and fairness? (3) How does teaching the American justice system through storytelling help police recruits understand the struggle for justice in American society? The researcher gathered data through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, observations, and field notes. The narrative study was conducted by retrieving data from six individual interviews and three three-person focus groups with recruits who attended the PIAMPU program. Themes emerged using in vivo and descriptive coding. The process of reviewing and pursuing meaning in the findings led to four results: (1) The storytelling used within the PIAMPU program helps recruits develop a holistic understanding of the justice system; (2) For the recruits, first-person storytelling is highly effective at building empathy and understanding others' perspectives; (3) Police recruits' understanding of justice and fairness is advanced when given opportunities to engage with their peers and reflect on their understanding through the practice of story-sharing; and (4) Storytelling used in the PIAMPU program is enhanced by exhibits, artifacts, and exploration of the museum. The primary focus of this narrative research study was to understand how storytelling techniques used within the NCC's PIAMPU training program influence police recruits' knowledge and assumptions about social justice and fairness. Presented are the conclusions and recommendations that have emerged from and find their foundation in the previous research, as well as the opinions and experiences of the recruits who participated in the study.