Crime Scene Familiarity: Does it Influence Mock Jurors’ Decisions?

Abstract

The purpose of the present studies is to examine the influence of crime scene familiarity on mock jurors’ decisions. Study 1 also examines eyewitness age and number of descriptor errors. In Study 2, the type of descriptor reported and the number of descriptor errors are examined. The participants were given a trial transcript involving a robbery. No effect of eyewitness age or crime scene familiarity was observed in Study 1; however, descriptor errors were found to decrease the number of guilty verdicts for the defendant. In Study 2, when crime scene descriptors were discussed by the eyewitness, crime scene familiarity was found to be influential such that when the eyewitness was familiar with the crime scene and reported crime scene descriptors with no errors, mock jurors were more likely to render a guilty verdict compared to when there were errors. These results suggest that an eyewitness’ familiarity with the crime scene does have the potential to influence mock jurors’ decision-making.