Trust in Colombia’s Justicia Especial Para La Paz: Experimental Evidence

Research on the determinants of institutional trust in courts that are part of transitional justice frameworks is scarce. This article relies on experimental evidence to explore whether
features of the case and the ruling play a role in citizens’ attitudes towards the Justicia Especial
para la Paz, Colombia’s transitional justice tribunal. I evaluate whether the profile of the accused and whether or not he is sentenced to the most lenient of restorative justice measures
have an effect on trust. I find that support for the decision is lower for restorative sentences
than for more punitive sentences, and that whether or not the acussed was a former guerrilla
combatant or a member of the military does not influence evaluations. This research contributes to our understanding of how citizens in countries dealing with the aftermath of violence
perceive the institutions devised to adjudicate on the atrocities of conflict.