NCJ Number
7118
Date Published
1970
Length
126 pages
Annotation
DISSERTATION ON THE EFFECT OF JURORS' ATTITUDES TOWARD CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ON VERDICTS RENDERED IN CAPITAL CASES.
Abstract
THE FIRST PURPOSE OF THIS DISSERTATION WAS, TO DETERMINE WHETHER JURORS WITH VARYING ATTITUDES TOWARD CAPITAL PUNISHMENT CAN BE SEPARATED INTO GROUPS ON THE BASIS OF ATTITUDE TESTING MEASURES. THE SECOND PURPOSE OF THE PAPER WAS TO SEE WHETHER JURORS WITH VARYING ATTITUDES TOWARD CAPITAL PUNISHMENT DIFFER FROM ONE ANOTHER BOTH IN TENDENCY TO CONVICT OR ACQUIT AND IN THE ASSIGNMENT OF PENALTIES WHEN JUDGING SIMULATED CAPITAL CASES. THE RESULTS STRONGLY IMPLY A NEED FOR CHANGE IN CURRENT JURY SELECTION PROCEDURES. NOT ONLY IS THERE EVIDENCE POINTING TOWARD A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A FAVORABLE ATTITUDE TOWARD CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND TENDENCY TO CONVICT, BUT THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE INDICATING THAT GROUPS IN FAVOR AND GROUPS OPPOSING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT CONSTITUTE COHESIVE AND DIFFERENT CLASSES IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY ATTITUDES. THE FINDINGS POINT TOWARD KEEPING EXCLUSIONS FROM THE JURY ON THE BASIS OF ATTITUDE TOWARD CAPITAL PUNISHMENT TO A MINIMUM IF WE ARE NOT TO OBTAIN CONVICTION-ORIENTED JURIES OR JURIES UNREPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY.