Event Title
Public Perceptions of Sex Trafficking: Determining the Prototype and its Effect on Legal Decision Making
Location
Hart 116
Start Time
12-5-2016 11:45 AM
End Time
12-5-2016 12:00 PM
Description
Sex trafficking (ST) is a complex crime and the public appears to have no comprehensive model of what it is. We conducted two studies with the following goals: 1) delineate the public conception of a “typical” ST case; 2) examine the effect on legal decision-making when an ST case includes or does not include “typical” details (i.e., trafficker gender, force used). Study 1 suggested that people think the typical trafficker is likely male and uses physical force. Study 2 found that jury-eligible participants who read an ST trial summary rated a male (vs. female) trafficker as more typical, which increased their likelihood of rendering guilty verdicts. The trafficker’s use of physical abuse (vs. coercion) decreased perceptions of defendant credibility, which increased the likelihood of guilty verdicts. Participants also judged the case on its similarity to a typical domestic violence case, indicating that they were not sure what ST actually involves.
Public Perceptions of Sex Trafficking: Determining the Prototype and its Effect on Legal Decision Making
Hart 116
Sex trafficking (ST) is a complex crime and the public appears to have no comprehensive model of what it is. We conducted two studies with the following goals: 1) delineate the public conception of a “typical” ST case; 2) examine the effect on legal decision-making when an ST case includes or does not include “typical” details (i.e., trafficker gender, force used). Study 1 suggested that people think the typical trafficker is likely male and uses physical force. Study 2 found that jury-eligible participants who read an ST trial summary rated a male (vs. female) trafficker as more typical, which increased their likelihood of rendering guilty verdicts. The trafficker’s use of physical abuse (vs. coercion) decreased perceptions of defendant credibility, which increased the likelihood of guilty verdicts. Participants also judged the case on its similarity to a typical domestic violence case, indicating that they were not sure what ST actually involves.
Comments
Moderator: Martina Arndt