Date of Submission

12-14-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Advisor

Maria Tcherni-Buzzeo

Keywords

child maltreatment, age, gender, jurors, perceptions

LCSH

child abuse, age, gender, jurors, perception

Abstract

This research delved into the influence of introducing a defendant's history of childhood maltreatment during court proceedings on mock jurors' perceptions of the defendant. The study specifically investigated how factors such as the type of maltreatment (physical abuse or neglect), the gender of the defendant (male or female), and the defendant's age (juvenile at age 16 or adult at age 30) impact these perceptions. A total of 1,341 study participants, primarily university students aged 18-24, completed an anonymous online survey. The survey initially collected demographic information and then presented a mock case summary involving a defendant charged with assault and battery against their mother. Participants responded to five questions regarding their opinions and emotions concerning the case. The mock case summaries were randomized to include one of the two maltreatment scenarios in the defendant’s history and to randomize the options for the defendant’s age and gender. The results showed that the type of maltreatment did not have a significant impact on mock jurors’ feelings or opinions. However, the defendant’s age and gender did have statistically significant but relatively small effects on these perceptions. Notably, the demographic characteristics of the mock jurors played a significant role in shaping their emotions and opinions in several meaningful ways. This study sheds light on how jurors may potentially view the introduction of childhood maltreatment evidence in the background of a defendant in a criminal case and whether such information might elicit greater sympathy towards the defendant.

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