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                            Library & Multimedia
 Social Inference Processes in Juror Judgments of Multiple-Offense Trials
NCJ Number
              103303
Journal

*Journal of Personality and Social Psychology* Volume: 47 Issue: 4 Dated: (1984) Pages: 749-765
Author(s)
          S Tanford;
                        S Penrod
Date Published

1984
Length
              17 pages
Annotation
              The effects of joinder (single trial of a defendant for multiple offenses) were investigated empirically, with emphasis on the social and psychological mechanisms underlying judgmental biases.
Abstract
              Subjects were 714 qualified jurors who had been summoned for jury service in Wisconsin in 1981-1982 and 18 undergraduate registered voters. A control group judged a trial that consisted of a single burglary charge; experimental groups judged a trial that combined this charge with two additional charges. Independent variables included charge and evidence similarity (similar, dissimilar, identical) and judge's instructions (present or absent).  Results indicate that joining multiple charges increases the proportion of individual guilty verdicts on the target charge relative to the same charge tried by itself. Joinder also increased the frequency of guilty and hung group verdicts. The effects of charge and evidence similarity were groups judged a trial that combined this charge with two additional charges. Independent variables included charge and evidence similarity (similar, dissimilar, identical) and judge's instructions (present or absent).  Results indicate that joining multiple charges increases the proportion of individual guilty verdicts on the target charge relative to the same charge tried by itself. Joinder also increased the frequency of guilty and hung group verdicts. The effects of charge and evidence similarity were negligible compared to the effects of joinder. A very strong set of jury instructions designed to eliminate biasing joinder effects had no effect on verdict judgments or any other dependent measures. Results support the proposition that joinder creates a negative impression of the defender that can produce confusion, accumulation of evidence, and inferences of criminality. 63 references. (Author abstract modified)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        81-IJ-CX-0048


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 1984
    
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                Joinder and severance
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