Effects of defendant age and juror bias on judgment of culpability: What happens when a juvenile is tried as an adult?

The current study examined the possibility that trying juveniles as adults was prejudicial. One hundred and fifty three undergraduate mock jurors, classified as either prosecution-biased (PB) or defense-biased (DB), participated in the experiment. The jurors were randomly assigned to read a murder trial summary depicting a 19-year-old adult defendant (AD-19), a 16-year-old juvenile tried as an adult (JA-16), or a 13-year-old juvenile tried as an adult (JA-13). Defendant age interacted with juror bias. In the JA-16 condition, compared with defense-biased jurors, prosecution-biased jurors found the defendant guilty more often, had higher confidence in the defendant’s guilt, and set a lower standard of proof. By all appearances, some jurors might lose neutrality when judging juveniles tried as adults.     

The Effect of Jury Deliberations on Jurors' Reasoning Skills

The effect of jury deliberation on jurors' reasoning skill in a murder trial was examined. Specifically, the effect of deliberating on reasoning competence (as defined by Kuhn, Weinstock and Flaton, 1994) was explored. One hundred and four participants viewed a videotaped murder trial and either deliberated in 12-person juries or ruminated on the case individually. Among those assigned to juries, half had their reasoning skill assessed prior to deliberations, while the others were tested after deliberating. Jurors in the individual rumination condition were assessed after they had the opportunity to reflect on the case alone. As hypothesized, post-group-deliberation jurors were more likely to discount both the selected verdict and alternative theories and incorporate judgmental supporting statements than were the other mock jurors. However, the mock jurors did not differ with regard to making statements that supported alternative verdicts or including judgmental statements that discounted their chosen verdict. In terms of Kuhn's reasoning continuum from satisficing (low level) to theory–evidence coordination (high level), there is some evidence that post-group-deliberation jurors may be closer to the high end than predeliberation jurors or post-individual-rumination jurors in some aspects of the task, but not in others.     

Computer-aided personality identification by skull and life-time photography by POSKID 1.1 method

An improved method for computer-aided personality identification by the skull, based on the POSKID 1.1 software, consists in investigation of enlarged images of the skull and life-time photograph of the probable individual by coordinates of 49 anatomical points; independent quantitative evaluation of the aspect of each of the compared objects by the X, Y, and Z axes; formal evaluation of the results of comparative study of the skull-portrait by multidimensional discriminant analysis models. The proposed version differs from the POSKID 1.0 software in the method for evaluating the spatial position of the head on the portrait and adequate orientation of the skull in space, which necessitates the utilization of coordinate-regulated holder POSKID 1.1 method is based on multidimensional discriminant analysis and suggests a virtually reliable solution in 76.13-80.65% cases, a probable solution (positive and negative) in 11.61-18.06% cases, and motivated refusal from solution in 5.81-7.74% cases. In case of a probable or indefinite solution further investigations are recommended making use of life-time photographs with different aspects.     

Spatial position of the cranium in craniofacial establishment of identity

A total of 90 images of male cranes from different groups of horizontal profiling (120 +/- 10 degrees, 140 +/- 10 degrees, 160 +/- 10 degrees) were studied in experiment with the coordinate-controlled complex for turning angle (from the position full face to the right and left by 14 degrees with spacing 2 degrees). Each image was marked according to the system of 18 control points. Precision of the angle fixation was 0.1 degrees. Calculation of the angles of horizontal profiling and turning of the crane were made according to a specially devised program INPUTTING. Statistic processing of the computer data base made it possible to calculate precision rates of marking points and regression equation describing the pattern of cranial control points in turning. It is shown that presicion of the turning angle estimation with reference to horizontal profiling is much higher than without it. Basing on the data obtained a method of zeroing of coordinates of the control points (placing in position for correct scaling of the objects of craniofacial identification) was devised. The method allows greater reliability of the results of personal craniofacial identification.     

Computer analysis of face and skull size by "quantitative verbal portrait" method

The aim of this study was to develop a "quantitative verbal portrait" method on the basis of universal measured signs of the face and skull. The database includes 90 cases with expert evaluation of photocompatibility with proven identity. Four groups of signs were investigated: DX and DY--the width and height between accurately fixed concrete craniometrical (facial) points and the so-called RX and RY indices--the ratio between distances within the framework of the same direction. The proposed scheme of evaluation helps compare the photograph of a live human and the skull. For evaluating the degree of identity, one should have a summary characterization of all selected signs for the skull and compare it with the sum on the photograph; sometimes it is possible to rule out the identity of the photograph and the skull by the absolute size, e.g., a very large skull cannot belong to a human with a very little face. The score for each group of signs is used for analysis of the information for detecting the similarities. Accumulation and comparative analysis of two information flows are possible: database on portraits of lost subjects and database on graphic images of the skulls of unidentified corpses.     

The impact of specific battering experiences on the self-esteem of abused women

This study examined the self-esteem of 48 women who were identified as battered and compared them to a group of 48 nonbattered women. As expected, the group of battered women experienced lower self-esteem than the nonbattered women. Four clusters of battering experiences were also identified: Physical Abuse, Emotional/Controlling Abuse, Sexual/Emotional Abuse, and Miscellaneous Abuse. Analyses indicated that Emotional/Controlling abuse was the only abuse cluster that was significantly related to lower self-esteem. The findings suggest that abuse that is controlling in nature might play a significant role in the feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness noted in battered women and may contribute to the difficulty that some battered women have in terminating their abusive relationships.     

Juror reactions to child victim witnesses

Trial variables that might affect juror decisions were examined in two experiments. In Experiment 1, the impact of (1) corroboration, (2) type of case (civil vs. criminal), and (3) victim age (6. 9, or 12 years) was examined. Participants (N=379) read a trial summary describing a wrongful injury or sexual abuse case and were asked to make decisions regarding the case. Results revealed a significant interaction between age and corroboration. Corroboration increased the number of guilty verdicts for the 6- and 12-year-olds, yet had little impact in the case with the 9-year-old. the type of the case did not interact with child age in affecting jurors' decisions. Experiment 2 examined the role of a child's age more systematically. The trial summary described the corroborated sexual abuse case (utilized in Experiment I) and varied the age of the victim from 6 to 14 years. Analyses revealed that number of guilty verdicts and credibility decreased with age, whereas amount of blame attributed to the victim increased with age. Reasons for the negative age bias are discussed.     

The effect of social dominance orientation on perceptions of corporal punishment

Previous research has suggested the use of corporal punishment is widely endorsed in our society (Straus, 2000; Straus & Stewart, 1999). Furthermore, perceptions of what constitutes corporal punishment vary. The present study examined social dominance orientation (SDO) and age of child as potential factors that may influence perceptions of what is viewed as corporal punishment versus physical abuse. The sample consisted of 206 undergraduate students enrolled at a Rocky Mountain University. A series of regressions were used to examine the relationships between SDO and six forms of punishment. Findings suggest, higher levels of SDO are significantly related to more ratings of physical punishment versus physical abuse. The primary findings of the present study showed SDO was significantly related to how an individual perceives corporal punishment. These results have important implications by serving as a stepping-stone into further understanding what factors may have an influence on perceptions of corporal punishment.