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Risk communication in sexually violent predator hearings
Sarah Scott1, Brett Gilcrist, Nicole Thurston
1Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA.
Behavioral Sciences & the Law
|November 13, 2009
Summary
Juror decisions in sexually violent predator (SVP) cases are significantly influenced by victim type. Risk communication and juror education had minimal impact on verdicts in these critical civil commitment proceedings.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychology
- Legal Psychology
- Criminal Justice
Background:
- Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) laws involve civil commitment for dangerous offenders with mental disorders.
- High-risk reoffending potential necessitates specialized legal and psychological evaluations.
- Limited research exists on jury decision-making processes in SVP commitment cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors influencing juror decisions in civil commitment trials for sexually violent predators.
- To assess the impact of victim characteristics, risk communication strategies, and juror education on verdicts.
- To identify the most influential elements in SVP case adjudication by juries.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a pilot study and three subsequent experimental studies.
- Manipulated variables including victim type, methods of risk communication, and levels of juror education.
- Collected and analyzed juror responses and verdict data across experimental conditions.
Main Results:
- Victim type emerged as the most significant factor influencing juror decisions across all studies.
- The specific manner in which risk was communicated to jurors showed minimal impact.
- Providing jurors with educational materials regarding SVP criteria had little effect on their verdicts.
Conclusions:
- Victim characteristics play a dominant role in jury deliberations and outcomes in SVP commitment cases.
- Current approaches to risk communication and juror education may be less effective than anticipated.
- Further research should explore the psychological underpinnings of victim salience in SVP trials.
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