Does Biology Matter? Examining the Impact of Biological Evidence on Jurors

• In Event: Court Processing and Disrectionary Practices

Abstract

In the era of modern law, American society has witnessed the United States Supreme Court struggle with the appropriate role of biological evidence in the courtroom, especially as it relates to punishment. This struggle has culminated in several landmark United States Supreme Court decisions regarding the inclusion of biological evidence in the courtroom. The American courtroom is a cornerstone upon which the administration of justice is built. Within our courtrooms, jurors are those individuals who render decisions on a daily basis that impact defendants and victims alike and are an intrinsic component in the process of administering justice. To date, very little is known about how jurors perceive biological evidence and the magnitude of impact this type of evidence may have on their decision making processes. Using a biologically informed survey that includes vignettes, this study measures potential juror comprehension of biological evidence and quantifies the magnitude of impact that certain types of biological evidence presented may have during the jury decision making processes. The results are then discussed in terms of their implications for understanding the impact of biological evidence on potential jurors and related policy decisions.

Authors

• Catherine D. Sacarellos, University of Cincinnati

• Insun Park, University of Cincinnati