Perceptions of elder physical abuse in the courtroom: the influence of hearsay witness testimony.
A community sample of 226 participants (41% men, 59% women) who answered questions about a trial summary that manipulated what type of witness (a 45-year-old hearsay [second-hand information based on the report of a crime victim] witness, a 75-year-old hearsay witness, or the 75-year-old victim) presented an allegation of elder physical abuse. Overall, participants who read the testimony of a 45-year-old hearsay witness had higher conviction rates than participants who read the testimony of the 75-year-old hearsay witness or the elder victim. Additionally, participants who had previously been victims of abuse and/or who had positive attitudes toward elderly people rendered more pro-prosecution verdicts. Finally, as the age of the participant increased so did conviction rates.
Dunlap
Emily E
EE
Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 118 Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506, USA. eedunl2@uky.edu
Golding
Jonathan M
JM
Hodell
Emily C
EC
Marsil
Dorothy F
DF
D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003657:Decision Making; D030881:Disclosure; D004552:Elder Abuse; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007603:Jurisprudence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States