Death Penalty Decisions: Instruction Comprehension, Attitudes, and Decision Mediators

• NCJ Number: 244273
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Dated: May-June 2013 Pages: 204-244
• Author(s): Marc W. Patry, Ph.D., M.L.S.; Steven D. Penrod, J.D., Ph.D.
• Date Published: June 2013
• Length: 41 pages
• Grant Number(s): 5T32MH0165156
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation; National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research Paper
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This research tested jury comprehension of death penalty instructions and the use of evidence in capital punishment decisionmaking.

Abstract

This research tested jury comprehension of death penalty instructions and the use of evidence in capital punishment decisionmaking. Two studies are presented. The first study (N = 245 undergraduates) was based on paper-and-pencil methods, and the second study (N = 735 jury-eligible participants) involved videotaped stimuli and deliberating mock jurors. Manipulations included instructions and several different variations in the evidence. Findings support previous research showing low comprehension of capital penalty instructions. Higher instruction comprehension was associated with higher likelihood of issuing life sentence decisions. The importance of instruction comprehension is emphasized in a social cognitive model of jury decisionmaking at the sentencing phase of capital cases. Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis.