title: Risk communication in sexually violent predator hearings.
abstract: Sexually violent predator (SVP) laws use the civil commitment process to confine mentally disordered and dangerous offenders who are at high risk to reoffend. Few studies have examined how jurors decide SVP cases. As a result, a pilot study and three experimental studies were conducted, in which victim type, risk communication, and juror education were manipulated to assess juror response. Results continually illustrated that victim type was the most salient manipulation across studies and that the manner of risk communication and juror education had little impact on jurors.
authors.affiliation: Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gilcrist
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thurston
authors.forename: Matthew T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Huss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011329:Prisoners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D011639:Public Opinion; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D055815:Young Adult