The Effect of Jurors' Race on Their Response to Scientific Evidence

175 Pages·2012·0.605 MB·English

by  Stephanie L. Albertson

Criminal Justice
Recent Scholarship

Edited by
Marilyn McShane and Frank P. Williams III

A Series from LFB Scholarly

The Effect of Jurors’ Race on Their
Response to Scientific Evidence

Stephanie L. Albertson

LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC
El Paso 2012
Copyright © 2012 by LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC

All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Albertson, Stephanie L. (Stephanie Lynn), 1971-
The effect of jurors' race on their response to scientific evidence /
Stephanie L. Albertson.
p. cm. -- (Criminal justice : recent scholarship)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-59332-450-6 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. Jurors--United States--Decision making. 2. Discrimination in
criminal justice administration--United States. 3. Jurors--United States-
-Attitudes. 4. Evidence, Criminal--United States. 5. Evidence, Expert-
-United States. I. Title.
KF8972.A74 2012
347.73'67--dc23
2011036643

ISBN 978-1-59332-450-6

Printed on acid-free 250-year-life paper.

Manufactured in the United States of America.
To my father, Lanny Lee Miller.
You will always be alive in my heart.

Table of Contents
Acknowledgments......................................................................ix
CHAPTER 1: The Importance of Jurors’ Race...........................1
CHAPTER 2: The Impact of Attitude Formation on Jury
Decision Making.................................................................7
CHAPTER 3: Background: The Science of DNA and the
Use of Complex Scientific Evidence in the Courts...........27
CHAPTER 4: Scientific Evidence and Juror Comprehension..53
CHAPTER 5: An Analysis of Jurors’ Race and Education.......79
CHAPTER 6: Summary of Findings: The Need for Reform.119
APPENDIX: Juror Questionnaires..........................................127
References...............................................................................147
Index........................................................................................159

vii

Acknowledgments
I would like to acknowledge the assistance and encouragement I
have received from a number of people while working on this
project. I wish to thank each of the following individuals: Dr.
Benjamin Fleury-Steiner, Dr. Ronet Bachman, Dr. Eric Rise, and
Dr. Valerie P. Hans for their thoughtful and invaluable guidance.
Without their contributions, this project would not have been
completed. I would like to particularly thank Dr. Benjamin
Fleury-Steiner, who mentored me through this grueling process
with his constructive criticisms, dedication, and insight. After
each conversation with Ben regarding this project, his contagious
enthusiasm toward this project seemed to anesthetize any
impending arduous thoughts. Thank you for believing in me.
I would also like to especially thank Dr. Valerie P. Hans,
whose impressive work in jury decision-making inspired me to
pursue this area of research. Her research has fascinated me for
years, creating the spark that continues to illuminate my interests
in juries. She has been not only my mentor and collaborator, but
also my muse. I appreciate the opportunity to work with you on
the mtDNA study.
I would also like to thank my mother, Kay, in addition to
other family members (Daren, Candy, Nancy, and Kathy) for
their continued support, for never doubting my ability to attain
this goal, and for their unending encouragement. Most of all, I
would like to thank my husband, Brian, for his patience,
understanding, and continuous encouragement throughout this
process. Without his support, I would not have been able to
succeed. You always inspire me to do my best through your
never-ending accomplishments.
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