Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to illustrate the problems associated with juror bias and how the media contributes to it. The way the media portrays individuals, the language they use, and the pictures seen as affecting potential jurors when they determine verdicts of the people they hear about on the news. The study further investigates whether or not these jurors are influenced enough by the media to cause a bias detrimental to the defendant. The design of the study used multiple peer-reviewed sources, documentaries, and semi-structured interviews. Through these, information was gathered and analyzed. I found through the interviews and sources that there were sentiments that jurors cannot help but be biased by the media through news stories, newspaper publications, etc. Instances in the past such as Amanda Knox and the Central Park Five were victims of juror bias. However, for the most part, jurors will disregard evidence not presented in court (e.g. media coverage, inadmissible evidence). If certain aspects of a case, such as the suspect’s face were to be left out of the news, juror bias could decrease and maintain trials based on evidence. Overall, bias is not a significant enough issue in the courts for it to affect verdict deliberation amongst jurors.
Recommended Citation
Fasano, Tia, "The Effect Media has on Juror Bias" (2019). Honors College Theses. 337.
https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/honorscollege_theses/337