Citation

Hodell EC, Golding JM, Yozwiak JA, Bradshaw GS, Kinstle TL, Marsil DF. Violence Against Women 2009; 15(6): 678-698.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077801209332294

PMID

19299250

Abstract

This study explored mock juror perceptions of elder sexual mistreatment (ESM). In Experiment 1, 118 participants read a fictional criminal trial summary of an ESM case in which a 76-year-old woman was allegedly abused by either her son or a neighbor. In Experiment 2 (n = 360), the ESM occurred in either a nursing home or the elder's home and the alleged perpetrator was either her son or a nursing home worker. Conviction rates were relatively low in both experiments (25% and 33%, respectively). Women were more pro-prosecution than men in case judgments. Overall, the study provides evidence that mock jurors may question the credibility of elders in ESM cases.

Language: en