Doctoral Dissertation Research: Effects of Pre-and Post Venire Publicity on Juror Decision Making

PI和Co-PI：Steven D. Penrod和Tarika Daftary标题：博士论文研究：审判前和审判后的公开性对陪审员决策的影响0819392项目摘要本研究采用一种新的研究方法，旨在探讨审判前的公开性（PTP）以及审判后的公开性（PVP）对陪审员决策的影响。长期以来，人们一直担心审前公开可能损害当事人获得公平审判的权利，迄今为止的研究完全集中在审前公开的影响上。 另一个可能使陪审员产生偏见的因素是陪审后宣传（PVP）。PVP指的是与审判有关的公开性，坐在座位上的陪审员可能会有意或无意地接触到。PVP一直是法院关注的问题，也是一些上诉裁决的依据。 拟议的研究将探讨PTP/PVP的理论框架内的影响？陷害？研究和？决策前的扭曲 有人建议，根据媒体框架陪审员接触？一个有利于起诉的框架，或者一个有利于辩护的框架，他们的感知和推断会被扭曲到有利于一方的方向。 这具有重大的法律的影响，因为许多新闻媒体来源在很大程度上偏向于一个方向或另一个方向，曝光可能会影响决策。 这项研究还将审查传播信息的媒介（印刷品还是录像）以及PTP的数量。 这项研究将采用影子陪审员的方法，参与者作为模拟陪审员将接触到审判证据，因为它出现在一个实际的审判。将在网上与审判地点的参与者以及偏远、可能改变审判地点的参与者进行在线交流。研究将分6个阶段进行。第一次会议将接触PTP，第二次会议将是可怕的问题和开幕词，第三次会议将是控方证词，第四次会议将是控方和辩方证词，第五次会议将是辩方证词，第六次会议将是结案陈词，法官？的指示。参与者将被发送浓缩的审判证词，并要求在沿着的多个点提出意见，以及最终的判断。 这项研究对法律的制度有若干影响。随着对对外宣传如何运作有了更深入的了解，传统的保障措施，如延续、扩大案中审查、陪审团审议和司法指示等，在过去被发现是无效的，可能会得到加强。这项研究的外部效度的增强可能会导致心理法律研究在法庭上更大的接受。如果陪审员确实受到他们在决策过程中所接触到的信息的影响，那么就可以提出一个政策理由，要求改变法庭的程序，包括但不限于扩大关于宣传曝光的预备讯问，在适当的情况下批准改变审判地点的请求，以及在引人注目的案件中加强陪审团隔离的必要性。这项研究将聘请一些本科生和研究生水平的研究助理，并为他们提供一个研究机会。这项研究的主要地点是约翰杰伊学院-纽约市立大学，它有一个非常多样化和种族的学生团体。这项研究的结果将在全国会议上发表，如美国心理学-法律学会年会。此外，他们将提交出版在该领域的领先期刊。

PI and Co-PI: Steven D. Penrod and Tarika DaftaryTitle: Doctoral Dissertation Research: Effects of Pre-and Post Venire Publicity on Juror Decision Making0819392 Project AbstractThe proposed research is designed to investigate the influence of pre-trial publicity (PTP) as well as post-venire publicity (PVP) on juror decision making using a novel research methodology. Concern has long been expressed about the possibility that pretrial publicity could compromise the rights of parties to a fair trial and research to date has focused entirely on the effects of PTP. Another factor that could potentially bias jurors is post-venire publicity (PVP). PVP refers to publicity related to a trial that seated jurors may be exposed to, wittingly or unwittingly. PVP has been a concern in the courts and the basis for a number of appellate rulings. The proposed study will examine the influence of PTP/PVP within the theoretical frameworks of ?framing? research and ?predecisional distortion.? It is proposed that depending on the media frame jurors are exposed to ? a pro-prosecution frame, or a pro-defense frame, their perceptions and inferences will be distorted in direction of the favored party. This has significant legal implications as many news media sources are substantially biased in one direction or the other and exposure could influence decision making. The study will also examine the medium (print versus video) via which the information is disseminated, as well as the amount of PTP. The study will employ a shadow juror methodology where participants acting as mock jurors will be exposed to trial evidence as it emerges from an actual trial. It will be conducted online with participants in the venue in which the trial is to take place as well as participants in a remote, potential change-of-venue location. The study will be conducted in 6 sessions. Session 1 will be the exposure to the PTP, session 2 will be vior dire questions and opening statements, session 3 will be prosecution testimony, session 4 will be prosecution and defense testimony, session 5 will be defense testimony, and session 6 will be closing arguments, and judge?s instructions. Participants will be sent condensed trial testimony and asked to render opinions at multiple points along the way as well as ultimate judgments. This study has a number of implications for the legal system. With a better understanding of how external publicity operates, traditional safeguards such as continuances, extended voir dire, jury deliberations, and judicial instructions, which have been found ineffective in the past, may be bolstered. The enhanced external validity of this study could lead to greater acceptance of psycho-legal research in the courtroom. If jurors are indeed influenced by the information they are exposed to during their decision-making process, then a policy case could be made for procedural changes in the court room, including, but not limited to, extended voir dire regarding publicity exposure, granting of change of venue requests in appropriate situations, and the need for enhanced sequestering of juries in high profile cases. The study will engage a number of undergraduate and gradate level research assistants and provide them with a research opportunity. The primary site for the research is John Jay College-CUNY which has an extremely diverse and ethnic student body. The results of this study will be presented at National Conferences such as the annual meeting of the American Psychology-Law Society. Additionally, they will be submitted for publication at leading journals in the field.