Independence of Multiple Verdicts by Jurors and Juries

• NCJ Number: 84459
• Journal: Journal of Applied Social Psychology Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: (January/February 1982) Pages: 12-29
• Author(s): N L Kerr; D L Harmon; J K Graves
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 18 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1-ROI-MH29929-01
• Sponsoring Agency: University of California, San Diego; National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article reports two studies examining the assumption that a juror can serve on more than one jury because jurors can and do reach multiple verdicts independently.

Abstract

The first experiment had mock jurors consider several cases in succession. Subjects exhibited a clear contrast effect on the strength of evidence; those subjects who initially saw strong prosecution cases were less likely to convict in a moderate test case than those who had initially seen weak prosecution cases. In the second study, the contrast hypothesis was tested for actual juries' verdicts through archival analyses. The results of this field study paralleled those obtained in the experimental study. The discussion focuses upon alternative theoretical explanations for these results, implications for trial practice, and the strengths and weaknesses of the methodologies applied in these studies. Tabular data, footnotes, and 25 references are given. (Author abstract modified)