VICTIM CONSEQUENCES, SENTENCE SEVERITY, AND DECISION PROCESSES IN MOCK JURIES

• NCJ Number: 60121
• Journal: ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE Volume: 18 Dated: (1977) Pages: 346-365
• Author(s): J H DAVIS; N KERR; G STASSER; D MEEK; R HOLT
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 20 pages
• Grant Number(s): SOC-7305697-01
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation; University of Illinois
• Corporate Author: Academic Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

IN THIS STUDY, COMPLEX INTERACTION PROCESSES PRECEDING A VERDICT OR A MOCK JURY PARTICIPATING IN A VIDEOTAPED TRIAL ARE CHARACTERIZED BY SOCIAL DECISION SCHEMES.

Abstract

SIX-PERSON JURIES AND PARALLEL INDIVIDUALS WATCHED A MOCK TRIAL (PRERECORDED ON VIDEO TAPE) UNDER CONDITIONS WHERE THE VICTIM OF AN ALLEGED RAPE HAD PURPORTEDLY SUFFERED EITHER MILD OR SEVERE CONSEQUENCES, AND THE DEFENDANT COULD RECEIVE EITHER A MODERATE OR HARSH SENTENCE IF CONVICTED. A TOTAL OF 621 SUBJECTS (421 MALES AND 200 FEMALES) PARTICIPATED FOR 2 HOURS EACH. OF THE TOTAL, 546 SUBJECTS WERE RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO 6-PERSON JURIES AND THE JURIES WERE ASSIGNED TO EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS, WHILE THE BALANCE WERE ASSIGNED TO INDIVIDUAL CONDITIONS. THE VARIABLES, (A) CONSEQUENCES TO THE VICTIM (SEVERE V. MILD) AND (B) LENGTH OF POSSIBLE SENTENCE FOR THE DEFENDANT (0-2 YEARS V. 15 OR MORE YEARS) WERE COMBINED IN A 2 X 2 FACTORIAL DESIGN. RESULTS SHOWED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE OVERALL GUILTY PREFERENCE RATE, PRIOR TO DELIBERATION, AMONG INDIVIDUAL JURORS, IN THIS STUDY OVER THAT OBSERVED IN AN EARLIER STUDY. NEITHER VICTIM CONSEQUENCES NOR SENTENCE SEVERITY SIGNIFICANTLY INFLUENCED THE OVERALL PROPORTION OF GUILTY VERDICTS, BUT INTERACTED TO SIGNIFICANTLY INFLUENCE MEAN DELIBERATION TIME. WHEN VICTIM CONSEQUENCES AND POTENTIAL SENTENCE DID NOT 'FIT,' LONGER AVERAGE DELIBERATION TIMES RESULTED. THE ONLY SOCIAL DECISION SCHEME THAT PROVIDED A STATISTICALLY ACCEPTABLE ACCOUNT OF THE VERDICTS OBSERVED OVERALL WAS ENTITLED 'DEFENDANT PROTECTION-HUNG OTHERWISE MIXTURE.' DETAILED STATISTICAL ANALYSIS IS GIVEN FOR VARIOUS FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS. IT IS NOTED THAT THE SEX OF THE RESPONDENT WAS A POWERFUL INFLUENCE UPON THE INDIVIDUAL GUILT PREFERENCE, WITH FEMALES SIGNIFICANTLY MORE INCLINED TO FIND FOR GUILTY THAN MALES, A RESULT ALSO OBSERVED IN OTHER STUDIES. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)