SIMULATED JURY STUDY - CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEFENDANT AND THE JURORS

• NCJ Number: 11502
• Journal: Journal of Social Psychology Volume: 90, 2D HALF Dated: (AUGUST 1973) Pages: 221-229
• Author(s): C NEMETH; R H SOSIS
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Journal Press
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN EXPERIMENT USING 80 SUBJECTS, SHOWING SIGNIFICANTLY LESSER PENALTIES GIVEN TO THOSE DEFENDANTS CONSIDERED 'ATTRACTIVE', WHICH IS DEFINED AS BEING LIKEABLE, MIDDLE CLASS, UPSTANDING, AND WITHOUT A CRIMINAL RECORD.

Abstract

IN THE PRESENT STUDY, TWO SAMPLES OF SUBJECTS DIFFERING IN CLASS AND POLITICAL ORIENTATION WERE TESTED IN A SIMULATED JURY SITUATION. THE DEFENDANT, ACCUSED OF NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE, VARIED IN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF RACE AND ATTRACTIVENESS. MEAN SENTENCING OF THE DEFENDANT WAS FOUND TO BE A FUNCTION OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JURORS AND OF THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE DEFENDANT. NO MAIN EFFECT FOR RACE OF THE DEFENDANT WAS FOUND. FURTHER, A SIGNIFICANT INTERACTION BETWEEN THE SUBJECT SAMPLE-I.E. THE JURORS-AND ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE DEFENDANT AND BETWEEN THE SUBJECT SAMPLE AND RACE OF THE DEFENDANT WAS FOUND. THE LATTER FINDINGS WERE DISCUSSED WITH REFERENCE TO THE CHILDREARING LITERATURE ON CLASS DIFFERENCES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)