The Influence of Gruesome Verbal Evidence on Mock Juror Verdicts

Social media makes it easier than ever to access information and opinions associated with criminal proceedings and viewing or discussing these pre-trial could reduce juror impartiality. This study explored whether viewing social media comments influenced mock juror verdicts. Seventy-two participants formed 12 six-person ‘mock juries'. All participants received information regarding a murder trial. Nine groups were exposed to social media comments, manipulated to be negative, positive or neutral towards the defendant. The remaining three groups only received trial information (control condition). Results showed that prior to group discussion, exposure to negatively-biased comments significantly increased the number of guilty verdicts, however these effects disappeared after group discussion. Therefore, although jurors may be unable to remain impartial before a trial, jury discussion can remove these prejudices, supporting previous group research. Further research is suggested where participants interact actively with social media, rather than passively viewing comments.

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The Effects of Biased Judges' Summaries on Mock Juror Verdicts

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e413812005-137 ◽

2002 ◽

Author(s):

Cassandra L. Govan ◽

Kipling D. Williams

Keyword(s):

Mock Juror ◽

Juror Verdicts

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How Processing Resources Shape the Influence of Stealing Thunder on Mock-Juror Verdicts

Psychiatry Psychology and Law ◽

10.1375/pplt.13.1.60 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 60-66

Author(s):

Mark V. A. Howard ◽

Neil Brewer ◽

Kipling D. Williams

Keyword(s):

Mock Juror ◽

Processing Resources ◽

Stealing Thunder ◽

Juror Verdicts

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Impact of Alibi Characteristics on Mock Juror Verdicts

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e692092007-001 ◽

2007 ◽

Author(s):

Kevin W. Jolly ◽

Rosa M. Chavez ◽

Harmon M. Hosch

Keyword(s):

Mock Juror ◽

Juror Verdicts

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Probative or prejudicial: Biasing effects of background information in police body-worn video evidence on mock-juror decisions in victim-depressed domestic abuse cases

10.31234/osf.io/72xwh ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Carly Smith ◽

Josh P Davis ◽

Andrew Roberts

Keyword(s):

Family Relationships ◽

Domestic Abuse ◽

Mock Juror ◽

Background Information ◽

Juror Decision Making ◽

Guilty Verdict ◽

Legal Information ◽

Biasing Effects ◽

Fact Finding ◽

Juror Verdicts

Body-worn videos enable domestic violence complainants’ first statements to be presented to in court to a jury if a complainant declines to attend. Footage of residential incidents might capture information not relevant to issues in dispute, but which might prejudicially influence juries’ fact-finding. The current research examined whether low salience case-irrelevant changes to background information biased mock juror decision-making. Participant mock jurors (n = 1,108) randomly viewed videos, or extracted audio only, depicting a female actor-complainant providing an alleged domestic abuse statement. Videos depicted toddler’s toys, games and sports equipment, a bookcase, or no additional furniture. The defendant’s mitigating statement referred to the complainant as depressed or of low mood. When the complainant was described as depressed, guilty verdict rates were significantly higher when participants heard audio than when they watched footage. Guilty verdict rates were also significantly lower when videos displayed games and sports equipment. Participants’ pre-existing attitudes towards blaming domestic abuse victims mitigated defendant guilt attributions. Higher perpetrator or situational blame aggravated blame. In summary, case-irrelevant background residential information implying different family relationships can influence juror verdicts, demonstrating a risk to trial fairness from extra-legal information presentation. It is important that courts worldwide are aware of this risk.

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