Corrigendum to “Engaging the CSI effect: The influences of experience-taking, type of evidence, and viewing frequency on juror decision-making” [Journal of Criminal Justice 49(March/April 2017) 45–52]

The CSI effect posits that exposure to television programs that portray forensic science (e.g.,CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) can change the way jurors evaluate forensic evidence. We review (1) the theory behind the CSI effect; (2) the perception of the effect among legal actors; (3) the academic treatment of the effect; and, (4) how courts have dealt with the effect. We demonstrate that while legal actors do see the CSI effect as a serious issue, there is virtually no empirical evidence suggesting it is a real phenomenon. Moreover, many of the remedies employed by courts may do no more than introduce bias into juror decision-making or even trigger the CSI effect when it would not normally occur. We end with suggestions for the proper treatment of the CSI effect in courts and directions for future scholarly work.

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LGBTQ in the Courtroom

10.1093/oso/9780190658113.003.0004 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Jordan Blair Woods

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Criminal Justice ◽

Best Practices ◽

Criminal Justice System ◽

Justice System ◽

Juror Decision Making ◽

Criminal Cases ◽

Future Studies ◽

Sexuality And Gender ◽

And Gender

This chapter reviews a limited but emerging body of research on biases that arise and affect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) jurors as well as juror decision-making when LGBTQ individuals are involved in criminal cases. The chapter also discusses recent research and legal developments surrounding jury selection and LGBTQ identity and describes debates over best practices to identify and combat anti-LGBTQ juror biases. Finally, the chapter reviews gay and trans “panic” defenses in cases involving the murders of LGBTQ individuals and examines other challenges that LGBTQ defendants and victims face in different criminal contexts. Although there is a need for future studies, the available research illustrates how challenges linked to sexuality and gender identity in the criminal jury system can compromise legitimacy and fairness in the criminal justice system more broadly.

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Jurors' expectations and decision-making: Revisiting the CSI effect

10.31234/osf.io/jbwzc ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Chloe Lodge ◽

Mircea Zloteanu

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Juror Decision Making ◽

Mock Jurors ◽

Csi Effect ◽

Crime Severity ◽

Decision Making Processes ◽

Technological Means ◽

Perceptions And Expectations ◽

Crime Scenarios ◽

The Impact

It has been argued that the rise in popularity of crime show dramas over the past few years has led to jurors holding unrealistic expectations regarding the type of evidence presented at trial. This has been coined the CSI effect. We investigated the CSI effect and the less well-known Tech effect-assigning more weight to evidence if obtained through technological means-and the impact of crime severity on juror decision-making. However, we argue that as time progresses, such effects will no longer be found to impact juror decision-making processes. We propose that past effects reported in the literature can be explained by considering a novelty bias. Using both frequentist and Bayesian frameworks, we tested this claim. Participants were primed with a newspaper that either contained a forensic, technology, or neutral article. They were then presented with two crime scenarios and asked to provide a verdict and a confidence rating. We find that mock jurors were unaffected by either the priming manipulation or crime severity, finding no evidence for either the CSI or Tech effects. The data suggest jurors are not as easily biased as has been previously argued in the literature, indicating a potential shift in public perceptions and expectations regarding evidence.

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Cognitive optimisers: The use of stereotypes in juror decision-making

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e571212013-242 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Blake McKimmie ◽

Jane Masters ◽

Barbara Masser ◽

Regina Schuller ◽

Deborah Terry

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Juror Decision Making

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The CSI Effect

10.31228/osf.io/6dsfb ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Jason Chin

Keyword(s):

Forensic Science ◽

Burden Of Proof ◽

High Standard ◽

Juror Decision Making ◽

Scholarly Work ◽

Television Programs ◽

Forensic Evidence ◽

Csi Effect ◽

Real Phenomenon ◽

Scene Investigation

The CSI Effect posits that exposure to television programs that portray forensic science (e.g., CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) can change the way jurors evaluate forensic evidence. The most commonly researched hypothesis under the CSI Effect suggests that shows like CSI depict an unrealistically high standard of forensic science and thus unreasonably inflate the expectations of jurors. Jurors are thus more likely to vote to acquit, and prosecutors face higher burden of proof. We review (1) the theory behind the CSI Effect, (2) the perception of the effect among legal actors, (3) the academic treatment of the effect, and (4) how courts have dealt with the effect. We demonstrate that while legal actors do see the CSI Effect as a serious issue, there is virtually no empirical evidence suggesting it is a real phenomenon. Moreover, many of the remedies employed by courts may do no more than introduce bias into juror decision making or even trigger the CSI Effect when it would not normally occur (i.e., the self-fulfilling prophesy). We end with suggestions for the proper treatment of the CSI Effect in courts, and directions for future scholarly work.

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