Event Title
Potential Factors Influencing Leniency Towards Veterans Who Commit Crimes
Graduation Year
2013
Location
Atrium, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
20-4-2013 2:00 PM
End Date
20-4-2013 3:00 PM
Description
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be used by individuals charged with a crime to argue for a not-guilty verdict or a reduced sentence. The PTSD defense is commonly used by veterans who have committed a crime, yet little research has been conducted on what factors of both the diagnosis and the crime may make the defense seem more legitimate in the minds of jurors. To investigate these factors, participants read vignettes describing a crime committed by a veteran and gave judgments regarding the guilt of the defendant. Results revealed the degree to which the method of murder (stabbing versus shooting), timing of PTSD diagnosis (before or after the crime), and degree of combat experienced (either witnessing a bombing or killing an insurgent) impacted participants’ judgments of guilt and beliefs regarding successful rehabilitation of the veteran.
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Potential Factors Influencing Leniency Towards Veterans Who Commit Crimes
Atrium, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be used by individuals charged with a crime to argue for a not-guilty verdict or a reduced sentence. The PTSD defense is commonly used by veterans who have committed a crime, yet little research has been conducted on what factors of both the diagnosis and the crime may make the defense seem more legitimate in the minds of jurors. To investigate these factors, participants read vignettes describing a crime committed by a veteran and gave judgments regarding the guilt of the defendant. Results revealed the degree to which the method of murder (stabbing versus shooting), timing of PTSD diagnosis (before or after the crime), and degree of combat experienced (either witnessing a bombing or killing an insurgent) impacted participants’ judgments of guilt and beliefs regarding successful rehabilitation of the veteran.