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Description: In this study, we addressed whether victim impact instructions served as a legal safeguard ina capital case involving victim impact testimony. We hypothesized that specific victim impact insturctions would moderate the realtion between victim impact testimony and death penalty recommendations. one hundred sixty-six participants viewed a simulated videotaped trial in which a victim impact statement was delivered in different emotional conditions. Judge's instructions were varied as either general instructions or with the addition of specific victim impact instructions. Particpant-jurors who heard specific victim impact instructions were less likely to recommend death compared to participants who heard general jury instructions. The value of victim impact instructions as a legal safeguard in capital trials is discussed.
Suggested Citation:
Platania, J., & Berman, G. L. (2006). The Moderating Effect of Judge's Instructions on Victim Impact Testimony in Capital Cases [Electronic Version]. Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice,
2(2), 84-101.
Keywords: victim impact testimony, juror, decision-making, capital cases
Date: Nov 07, 2006 | File Size: 171.66 Kb | Downloads: 2386