NCJ Number
104743
Journal
Journal of Applied Social Psychology Volume: 16 Issue: 8 Dated: (1986) Pages: 686-701
Date Published
1986
Length
16 pages
Annotation
The present study attempted to determine the impact of alternative verdict choices on the decisions of mock jurors.
Abstract
Mock jurors (college undergraduates) were shown one of two versions of a videotaped simulated murder trial. Both films presented a defendant who appeared to be suffering emotional difficulties, but in one film the defendant had committed the act while in the other film the defendant's actions were less certain. Subjects gave their individual verdicts and, after deliberation with other subjects, a total jury verdict. The verdicts available to the subjects varied across three conditions. In one condition, subjects were only allowed to find the defendant to be innocent or guilty. In another condition, the subjects could find the defendant innocent, guilty, not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI), and guilty but mentally ill (GBMI). The results indicated that including 'mental health' verdicts had a significant impact on juror decisionmaking. It was found that only defendants who would otherwise have been found innocent were likely to be found NGRI. This study revealed the GBMI verdict to be attractive to mock jurors. Innocent defendants were found to be GBMI when this alternative form of guilt was available. 30 references. (Author abstract modified)