Despite the high prevalence rates of rape, the rates of reporting, arrest, and conviction for this crime are quite low. To help remedy this problem, it is important to study factors that influence juror decisions in rape trials. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the influence of three independent variables, type of rape, complainant alcohol consumption, and defendant alcohol consumption, on mock juror verdicts. Participants were randomly assigned to one of eight conditions varying on the three independent variables. Participants were surveyed about their perceptions of rape myths, alcohol beliefs, defendant guilt, and complainant and defendant responsibility. Overall, the complainant’s alcohol consumption had a larger effect on guilt ratings and perceptions of complainant and defendant responsibility than the defendant’s alcohol consumption and the relationship between the victim and defendant. Jurors’ beliefs about alcohol also correlated with perceptions of the situation, complainant, and defendant.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MSSTATE/oai:scholarsjunction.msstate.edu:td-2773 |
| Date | 09 August 2008 |
| Creators | Brown, Megan Glenn |
| Publisher | Scholars Junction |
| Source Sets | Mississippi State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
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