Abstract
This study extended the research of Smith & Hed (1975) by examining the effect of age and occupational status on sentencing recommendation by mock jurors. Participants read a description of a crime committed by a young or old and high or low status defendant, recommended a sentence, and indicated perceptions of the defendant’s future. Although no significant differences attributable to defendant age or status were observed, high status defendants were rated as having a better potential future, whatever their age.
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The authors wish to thank Jim Bodle, Steve Goodin, Eliot Smith, and Duane Wegener for suggestions and comments on earlier drafts of this article. An earlier version was presented at the 1999 American Psychological Society convention, Denver, CO. Data were collected for this paper at the College of Mount St. Joseph in connection with a class in research.
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Loeffler, R.L., Lawson, T.J. Age and occupational status of defendant in relation to mock juror sentencing recommendations. Curr Psychol 21, 289–292 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-002-1019-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-002-1019-6