Thesis
Judges' and potential jurors' perceptions of personality disorders as a mitigating factor in capital sentencing decisions
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2017
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-7571
Abstract
When mental illness is not enough to preclude a defendant from death-eligibility, mental health information presented during the sentencing phase of a capital trial becomes incredibly important. The role of personality disorders as a mitigating factor is missing from the literature, despite high comorbidity rates with criminal behavior. The goal of this study was to examine whether personality disorders are treated differently than other mental illnesses that may be presented as mitigating evidence and if that affects sentencing recommendations. Two samples of 158 judges and 195 mock jurors were each randomized into five conditions. Using vignettes, the defendant's diagnosis (no mental illness, schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder) was manipulated. Results showed that judges and mock jurors found schizophrenia to be more mitigating than any other mental health diagnosis, but judges recognized that borderline personality disorder is also mitigating.
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Details
- Title
- Judges' and potential jurors' perceptions of personality disorders as a mitigating factor in capital sentencing decisions
- Creators
- Shelby Arnold - DU
- Contributors
- David S. DeMatteo (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- vi, 58 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 7571; 991014632650804721