This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (7) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sargent, M. J. Articles by Bradfield, A. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sargent, M. J. Articles by Bradfield, A. L. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Race and Information Processing in Criminal Trials: Does the Defendant’s Race Affect How the Facts Are Evaluated?

Amy L. Bradfield

Bates College

Two studies examined whether a criminal defendant’s race influences Whites’ sensitivity to legally relevant information. In Study 1, prosecution case strength ratings and guilt likelihood ratings were more sensitive to the strength of the defendant’s alibi when he was Black than when he was White, if the experimental task was designed to elicit low processing motivation. Under high motivation, participants were equally sensitive to alibi strength, regardless of defendant race. In Study 2, the alibi strength manipulation was replaced with a manipulation of the effectiveness of the district attorney’s cross-examination. As predicted, defense case strength ratings were more sensitive to the strength of the prosecutor’s cross-examination with a Black defendant than with a White defendant—under low motivation. Under high motivation, sensitivity did not depend on defendant race. These results suggest that a Black defendant can elicit greater sensitivity to legally relevant information than will a White defendant.

Key Words: racial bias • juror decision making • psychology and law

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J.-W. van Prooijen Retributive Reactions to Suspected Offenders: The Importance of Social Categorizations and Guilt Probability Pers Soc Psychol Bull, June 1, 2006; 32(6): 715 - 726. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. A. Fleming, R. E. Petty, and P. H. White Stigmatized Targets and Evaluation: Prejudice as a Determinant of Attribute Scrutiny and Polarization Pers Soc Psychol Bull, April 1, 2005; 31(4): 496 - 507. [Abstract] [PDF]