Kaitlyn Hunter, a PhD candidate in Sociology has been awarded the Vanier Graduate Scholarship for her outstanding research proposal titled "The Reach' of Legal Cynicism: Examining the Impact of American Police Violence on Police-Community Relationships in Canada."
Under the supervision of Dr. Holly Campeau, Hunter is currently developing her dissertation, which investigates how high-profile cases of racialized police violence in the United States such as the murder of George Floyd shape public engagement with police in other geographic contexts. More specifically, her research investigates how these events influence crime reporting and police-citizen relationships in Canada.
"I want to explore whether and how the consequences of touchstone events, such as the police murder of George Floyd, extend beyond geographic borders," Hunter explains. "Do high-profile cases of American police violence impact how people in Canada especially in racialized communities interact with and view the police?"
Using a three-stage mixed-methods approach, Hunter's research investigates fluctuations in crime reporting before and after Floyd's death, followed by interviews with residents and front-line officers. She aims to uncover whether "legal cynicism" (i.e., the perception that police are illegitimate and ill-equipped to keep communities safe) following American police violence, crosses borders and influences civic behaviour and community well-being in Canada.
Campeau describes Hunter as a bold and thoughtful scholar whose work is both timely and critically important. "Kaitlyn is breaking new ground by putting evidence behind a question many in policing have only assumed whether U.S. police violence shapes perceptions in Canada."
Hunter's path to this research was shaped by her academic background and a deep interest in justice system accountability. After completing her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Public Policy at the University of Guelph, Hunter's master's thesis explored the Canadian discourse around the Defund the Police movement. That research sparked a bigger question that now underpins her doctoral work: What are the symbolic and material impacts of U.S. police violence on Canadian communities?
A passionate and driven researcher, Hunter has already contributed significantly to academic and policy discussions. She has served as a research assistant on 10 projects, co-authored several peer-reviewed articles, and presented her work to both scholarly and practitioner audiences. Her 2022 report for the City of Guelph on equity and inclusion led to the adoption of all 18 of her policy recommendations.
"I am dedicated to leading positive change," Hunter says. "Whether it's improving how cities engage with their communities or helping police services better understand and respond to public concerns, I want to use research to foster a real-world impact."
Marking an important milestone in her academic career, she recently had her first sole-authored article, Predicting police contact: Exploring the impact of legal cynicism on residents' willingness to contact the police, accepted for publication in The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles.
As she prepares for fieldwork, Hunter hopes her research will provide new insights into how Canadian police services can more effectively address concerns about systemic racism and rebuild trust with marginalized communities.
