NCJ Number
119523
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1989) Pages: 167-183
Date Published
1989
Length
16 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this research was to develop and evaluate an alternative method of capital jury selection.
Abstract
Subjects determined to be excludable and nonexcludable for capital jury service were exposed to a crime questionnaire containing 16 brutal crimes. Sixty-five percent of the excludables indicated that they would consider imposing the death penalty in one or more scenarios and within forty-eight hours, seventy-six percent maintained a new position. The rehabilitated excludables were more tolerant of ambiguity and more due process oriented than the nonexcludables. A second study showed that the crime questionnaire did produce a small amount of bias against the defendants in terms of conviction rates and penalties. The advantages of the alternative system for providing an objective, standardized questioning procedure and a less biased jury are discussed. 47 references, 2 tables. (Author abstract modified)