Coherence-based reasoning and order effects in legal judgments.
According to coherence-based models of legal judgment, individuals form coherent mental representations to make sense of the available evidence. In this process, evidence supporting the emerging assessment is accentuated, resulting in coherence effects. Dependent on specific implementations of coherence-based models, in legal tasks both overweighting of evidence that is presented early (a primacy effect) or late (a recency effect) can be predicted. In two studies (N₁ = 221, N₂ = 332), we investigate coherence effects, order effects, and their interrelation in a mock legal case. We manipulate the order in which the evid...
Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law - June 4, 2020 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research
Challenges of a “toolbox” approach to investigative interviewing: A critical analysis of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s (RCMP) Phased Interview Model.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) implemented the Phased Interview Model in Canada and has argued that it is a novel and productive way to interview suspects. We applaud the RCMP for moving away from an accusatorial approach and recognize that the Phased Interview Model contains several science-based practices. In this article, however, we evaluate the Phased Interview Model critically. In particular, we present compelling empirical evidence that 3 fundamental practices (minimizing culpability, mischaracterizing evidence, and asking leading questions) in the Phased Interview Model put the truth-seeking function of p...
Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law - June 4, 2020 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research
Enhancing innocent suspects’ memories for corroborating alibi evidence.
Past research has shown that innocent alibi providers often fail to produce physical evidence to support their alibi. The current study examined whether chronological recall instructions and perspective-taking improved recall for corroborating physical evidence. This research employed a 2 (Recall Instructions: chronological recall vs. free recall) × 3 (Perspective: experimenter vs. detective vs. undirected) between-subjects design. Undergraduates (N = 184) were recruited for a 2-part study where they engaged in activities that generated various types of physical evidence (Time 1) and were asked 1 week later to provide an ...
Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law - May 28, 2020 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research
Investigating the effect of emotional stress on adult memory for single and repeated events.
Victims of repeated incidents of abuse are often required to report incident-specific information about particular instances of the abuse. In the current study, we explored adults’ capability of such a task by examining the difference in memory for single versus repeated events that were either stressful or nonstressful. One hundred and twenty-two female participants engaged in either a single event or four highly similar events over a 4-week period. During each event, participants read and imagined themselves partaking in a hypothetical relationship scenario that consisted of either a domestic violence encounter (stress...
Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law - May 21, 2020 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research
Are Psychopathy Checklist (PCL) psychopaths dangerous, untreatable, and without conscience? A systematic review of the empirical evidence.
The Hare Psychopathy Checklist (PCL; Hare, Neumann, & Mokros 2018) scales are among the most widely used forensic assessment tools. Their perceived utility rests partly on their ability to assess stable personality traits indicative of a lack of conscience, which then facilitates behavioral predictions useful in forensic decisions. In this systematic review, we evaluate the empirical evidence behind 3 fundamental justifications for using the PCL scales in forensics, namely, that they are empirically predictive of (1) criminal behavior, (2) treatment outcomes, and (3) a lack of conscience. We found the PCL scales can predic...
Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law - May 21, 2020 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research
False admissions of guilt associated with wrongful convictions undermine people’s perceptions of exonerees.
Exonerees are stigmatized, especially those who have falsely confessed. False confessions prompt a series of negative perceptions that ultimately undermine people’s willingness to support reintegration aids. We extended the nascent body of literature on exoneree stigma by exploring first whether false guilty pleas can precipitate a similar series of perceptions and judgments and, second, the role of exoneree responsibility as an underlying mechanism. Participants (N = 290) were randomly assigned to read 1 of 4 news stories in which the exoneree falsely confessed, falsely pleaded guilty, both, or neither and then offered ...
Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law - April 23, 2020 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research
The effects of variations in confession evidence and need for cognition on jurors’ decisions.
The objective of this article was to examine whether jurors consider the interrogation technique and source of consistent knowledge in judging the reliability of confession evidence. In 2 studies, participants read a trial summary in which the defendant’s confession was consistent versus inconsistent with case facts and evidence was withheld versus disclosed during the interrogation. In Study 2, we also examined for moderating effects of need for cognition (NC). Overall, participants were attuned to confession–case facts consistency in making decisions; furthermore, in Study 2, this effect interacted with evidence disc...
Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law - April 20, 2020 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research
Connecting mental health court participants with services: Process, challenges, and recommendations.
This article discusses the challenges of connecting mental health court participants with appropriate services and proposes recommendations to mitigate these challenges. Recommendations include the establishment of specialized treatment programs, ensuring treatment programs are informed by the risk-need-responsivity model of criminal recidivism, trauma and cultural considerations, use of integrated case management services, and implementation of flexible treatment mandates. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law)
Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law - April 9, 2020 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research
The adversarial mindset.
Many social outcomes are reached by means of competitions between opposing actors. While the positive effects of competition are beyond dispute, this article contends that competitive situations also trigger a particular psychological mindset that can distort contestants’ judgment and lead to suboptimal courses of action. The article presents a theoretical framework that consists of a myside bias, by which people adopt a self-serving view of the competition, evaluate themselves favorably, and evaluate their counterpart unfavorably. The framework also proposes the construct of otherside bias, by which people impute to the...
Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law - April 9, 2020 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research
Statutes governing juvenile competency to stand trial proceedings: An analysis of consistency with best practice recommendations.
As part of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change initiative, Larson and Grisso (2011) authored a document entitled Developing Statutes for Competence to Stand Trial in Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings: A Guide for Lawmakers. This guide outlines legal components and best practice recommendations that legislators might consider when creating or revising juvenile competency to stand trial (JCST) statutes. The present study identifies the 37 states that currently have JCST statutes and presents an analysis of how frequently these laws address the issues described by Larson and Grisso. Results ...
Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law - April 9, 2020 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research
Follow the money: Racial crime stereotypes and willingness to fund crime control policies.
A general shift in U.S. efforts to reduce crime via prevention and rehabilitation juxtaposed with the continued implementation of punitive policies, many of which disproportionately impact Black communities, raises questions about mechanisms underlying crime policy preferences. One concern is that the public is more willing to invest in policing and corrections when those practices are thought to primarily impact people of color. In a set of studies, the current research assesses how people allocate money across a variety of crime policies and evaluates how those decisions are influenced by perceptions of racial disparitie...
Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law - April 6, 2020 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research
Child victim empathy mediates the influence of jurors’ sexual abuse experiences on child sexual abuse case judgments: Meta-analyses.
Using meta-analyses, we examined the effect of mock jurors’ own sexual abuse experiences (i.e., whether they were victimized sexually as a child or adult or knew other victims) on child sexual abuse case judgments from 9 separate studies. We also examined the relation of abuse experience to jurors’ child victim empathy, testing our theory that empathy would mediate (explain) the influence of abuse experience on case judgments. Participants were 2,447 psychology students who assumed the role of mock juror, reported their empathy for child victims, considered a hypothetical case of child sexual abuse, and made case-relat...
Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law - April 6, 2020 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research
Condition comprehension predicts compliance for adolescents under probation supervision.
This study explored the effect of condition comprehension on short-term compliance with probation requirements in a sample of probation youths (n = 101). Results of the multilevel logistic regression analysis demonstrated that youth with a detailed understanding of their conditions were more likely to comply with probation requirements, but that this effect was moderated by age and by emotion regulation. Understanding was not related to compliance for youth younger than 14 and for youth who scored low on a measure of emotion regulation. Results of this study provide support for efforts by probation departments to foster yo...
Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law - April 6, 2020 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research
Empirical evidence from state legislators: How, when, and who uses research.
For decades, science has made few advances regarding when, why, how, and even whether research is utilized in policymaking. Guided by community dissonance theory, this study examines research utilization in an overlooked population—state legislators. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 123 legislators in two states; 32 legislators nominated by their colleagues as exemplar research users; and 13 key informants. Drawing on the lived experience and language of legislators, the study found a slice of issues, segments of policymakers, and points in the policy process where research was used in policymaking. Legislators...
Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law - March 23, 2020 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research
Editorial.
This Editorial marks both the beginning of Michael E. Lamb’s reappointment as Editor of Psychology, Public Policy, and Law and the appointment, for the first time, of an Associate Editor, Nancy Steblay, to help with the review and selection of articles from a growing volume of submissions. The editors' objective is that Psychology, Public Policy, and Law be universally recognized for high-quality reports on a wide range of legal and policy topics. They want to attract the attention of a new generation of scientist practitioners, empirical legal scholars, and policy evaluators around the world, ensuring that they view the...
Source: Psychology, Public Policy, and Law - August 1, 2019 Category: Medical Law Source Type: research
