NCJ Number
121256
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 62 Issue: 3 Dated: (July-September 1989) Pages: 194-199
Date Published
1989
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The existence of criminal facial stereotypes and their influence on jurors' decisions is supported by a study of 100 subjects using videotaped criminal incidents.
Abstract
A significant limitation of the 1973 Shoemaker study on the topic was lack of control over the physical attractiveness of the defendant. In this study that variable was held constant. In the first stage, 200 subjects rated facial photographs for particular criminal stereotypes; four photographs were eventually selected for the experiment proper. In the second stage, 100 subjects judged defendants guilty or innocent on the basis of videotaped incidents. The significant results support available psychological evidence that jurors do indeed have stereotypical expectations that can bias their final decision. This raises an important question for the legal process as well as an interesting psychological question about as to what facial characteristics cause us to classify people into criminal categories. Table, 13 references.