Capital Jurors’ Reactions to Gendered Case-types: Victim-blame, Empathy, and Fear of Crime

• In Event: Unique Perspectives on Fear of Crime and Perceived Risk

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to shed light on the role of gender in capital juror and jury decision-making. To do so, this project draws from the narrative accounts of former jurors and employs a qualitative methodological approach, relying on in-depth interview data collected as part of the Capital Jury Project (CJP). The focus for this presentation is on characterizing female and male jurors’ respective reactions to certain gendered case-types, defined here as capital murder cases involving components of rape or domestic violence, or in cases when the sexual orientation of the defendant or victim is a salient issue. Analyses suggest that during deliberations and/or as part of their individual decision-making processes, female and male jurors engage in differential levels of victim-blaming or explicitly rejecting such notions, expressing marked empathy for victims or a lack thereof, and offering articulations of their fear of (sexual) victimization.

Author

• Heather Pruss, Bellarmine University