Jury selection in child sex abuse trials: a case analysis.
Child sex abuse cases have been the target of considerable psycho-legal research. The present paper offers an analysis of psychological constructs for jury selection in child sex abuse cases from the defense perspective. The authors specifically delineate general and case-specific jury selection variables. General variables include authoritarianism, dogmatism, need for cognition, pretrial knowledge, and race/socioeconomic status. Case-specific variables include sexual attitudes, homonegativity, juror abuse history, and beliefs about children. The paper also provides a factual background of a representative case, incorporates relevant case law, identifies sources for voir dire and juror questionnaire items, and discusses lessons from the primary author's first experience as a trial consultant for the defense.
Cramer
Robert J
RJ
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. Crame001@bama.ua.edu
Adams
Desiree D
DD
Brodsky
Stanley L
SL
D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D011287:Prejudice; D011639:Public Opinion; D013240:Stereotyping; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology