Doctoral Dissertation Research: Examining the Effects of the Inclusion of Non-English Speaking Jurors on Jury Verdicts and Juror Experiences

博士论文研究：检验非英语陪审员的加入对陪审团裁决和陪审员体验的影响

• 批准号: 1061685
• 负责人: Markus Kemmelmeier
• 金额: $ 1.37万
• 依托单位: Board of Regents, NSHE, obo University of Nevada, Reno
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-02-01 至 2013-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1061685&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Research; Examining; Effects

Latinos are now the largest ethnic minority group in the U.S. However, with regard to their inclusion in the American legal system, the fact that a nontrivial part of the Latino population does not speak English well poses a challenge for mainstream society. Currently, New Mexico is the only state that allows non-English speaking (NES) citizens to serve on juries, with the help of a certified interpreter offering simultaneous translation. This doctoral dissertation research will be the first studies to examine: (1) whether the inclusion of NES jurors has an influence on verdicts, (2) whether the inclusion of NES jurors leads to different jury experiences, and (3) the nature of public opinion toward and acceptance of this practice. Focusing on a single county in New Mexico, Study 1 utilizes archival methods to examine whether juries in criminal cases that included NES jurors render different verdicts than comparable juries without NES jurors. By testing competing predictions from social identity theory and aversive racism theory, this study will contribute to research on juror ethnic biases by demonstrating how an NES juror might reduce or increase bias toward Latino defendants. In Study 2, former jurors will be asked to complete a survey assessing their jury experiences, opinions about the inclusion of NES jurors, and various ideologies and beliefs, such as support for English-only policies. Competing views regarding the benefits and drawbacks of working in diverse groups suggest that having NES jurors on a jury may either lead to more positive or negative jury experiences for jurors. The inclusion of NES jurors in American juries is an important issue in light of demographic shifts in the U.S. This research will produce the first data on both the NES jury experience and public attitudes towards the practice, and may have implications for attorneys, judges, and court administrators in jurisdictions with high Latino populations.

拉丁裔现在是美国最大的少数族裔群体。然而，关于他们被纳入美国法律体系的问题，有相当一部分拉丁裔人口英语说得不好，这对主流社会构成了挑战。目前，新墨西哥州是唯一允许非英语(NES)公民在提供同声传译的认证口译员帮助下担任陪审员的州。这项博士论文研究将首先考察：(1)纳入NES陪审员是否会对判决产生影响，(2)纳入NES陪审员是否会导致不同的陪审团体验，以及(3)公众舆论对这种做法的性质和接受程度。研究1聚焦于新墨西哥州的一个县，利用档案方法检查包括NES陪审员的刑事案件的陪审团是否与没有NES陪审员的可比陪审团做出不同的裁决。通过检验社会认同理论和厌恶种族主义理论的相互矛盾的预测，这项研究将通过展示NES陪审员如何减少或增加对拉丁裔被告的偏见，为研究陪审员的种族偏见做出贡献。在研究2中，前陪审员将被要求完成一项调查，评估他们的陪审团经验，对纳入NES陪审员的意见，以及各种意识形态和信仰，如对只限英语政策的支持。关于在不同群体中工作的好处和缺点的相互矛盾的观点表明，让NES陪审员担任陪审员可能会给陪审员带来更积极或更消极的陪审团体验。鉴于美国人口结构的变化，NES陪审员加入美国陪审团是一个重要的问题。这项研究将产生关于NES陪审团经验和公众对这种做法的态度的第一批数据，并可能对拉美裔人口较多的司法管辖区的律师、法官和法院管理人员产生影响。