By Faculty
Objective We examine whether affective, verbal, and restitutive displays of remorse are associated with perceived offender immorality, as well as whether displays of remorse exert indirect effects on preferences for criminal sentencing via perceived offender immorality. Method Data are from an online survey, which included a sentencing vignette with experimental manipulations for offender remorse and... Learn More
Using a national sample of U.S. adults (N = 371), this study experimentally examines (1) public support for the use of strategies that provide early release (i.e., “second chance” mechanisms) to individuals serving long-term prison sentences for drug crimes; and (2) how levels of support, and reasons for support, may vary depending on the type... Learn More
The current study explores if and how dual-process thinking styles (System I/experiential and System II/rational processing) predict and explain the degree to which members of the public express moral panic toward and support for existing sex offender management policies (registration, notification, residence restrictions), regardless of their efficacy or effects on recidivism rates, for different types... Learn More
This study examines US popular support for mechanisms that provide early release and “second chances” for individuals serving long-term prison sentences. An experiment using a national sample of US adults (N=836). Data showed moderate, consistent levels of general support for using a range of commonly available “second chance” mechanisms that also extended to offenders convicted of both... Learn More
This paper discusses how existing legal strategies can be used to help bring immediate relief to individuals serving long-term prison sentences for drug-related crimes by creating or expanding opportunities for their early release. These strategies, which currently exist at both state and federal jurisdictions, are conceptualized as mechanisms that can provide “second chances” to drug... Learn More
People often perceive social groups (e.g. ethnic groups, occupations, gender groups) as having fixed membership and discrete boundaries. This paper proposes that essentialist beliefs about abstract crime concepts, as naturally defined and universally coherent, play a role in culpability and sentencing judgments. In three studies, a general sample of college students (Study 1, n = 52), a lay... Learn More
U.S. courts currently show no coherent approach with regard to how evidence of childhood abuse is considered in sentencing. Existing state and federal caselaw suggests that courts rarely place significant consideration on evidence of childhood abuse during sentencing, but the reasons why offenders who have been subjected to childhood abuse rarely receive mitigated or alternative... Learn More
Although shame and guilt are often conceived as adverse sentiments in criminal contexts, defendants’ expressions of remorse may actually act as an effective “therapeutic tool” in the legal process in order to reduce negative emotions, decrease future recidivism, and increase both community and victim healing, as well as rehabilitation. As such, evaluations of remorse should... Learn More
Courts occupy a unique position in the justice system that is steeped in tradition and formality. Likewise, any changes from established procedure are likely to invite challenges to decisions and outcomes based on their legal and constitutional implications. As such, it should be no surprise that courts have been slow to embrace technological advances. The... Learn More