Society, Politics & Law
Proven and not proven: A potential alternative to the current Scottish verdict system
The aim of the current study was to test the effects of a Scottish verdict system on verdicts given, when compared to alternative verdict systems.
Society, Politics & Law
How juror bias can be tackled to ensure fairer trials
Juror decision-making - how individual jurors evaluate information and examines their pre-trial biases and the cognitive mechanisms behind the verdicts they reach.
Society, Politics & Law
Jurors are subject to all kinds of biases when it comes to deciding on a trial
From CSI to Law and Order, Line of Duty and Midsomer Murders, there is huge public fascination with crime and the criminal justice system. But how much do jurors get it wrong?
Health, Sports & Psychology
CSI: Current research into the impact of bias on crime scene forensics is limited – but psychology can help
Recent research suggests that the reality of forensic analysis is that it can be subjective and fallible.
Health, Sports & Psychology
Forensic Psychology: Witness Investigation
Discover how psychology can help obtain evidence from eyewitnesses in police investigations and prevent miscarriages of justice.
Society, Politics & Law
People make terrible eyewitnesses – but it turns out there’s an exception
People are often poor eyewitnesses. Psychologists have been demonstrating this in experiments for years, but the justice system in the UK has been slow to catch on.
Society, Politics & Law
Scotland’s ‘not proven’ verdict helps juries communicate their belief of guilt when lack of evidence fails to convict
But what are the effects of the not proven verdict on jurors?
Society, Politics & Law
The Anglo-American jury system: is there another way?
At HERC we publish blog articles covering a wide range of issues that broadly relate to harm, evidence, crime and justice. In keeping with the critical position of HERC, our aim is to highlight all sides of the debate and to facilitate a discussion so that all voices are heard on the issue.
Society, Politics & Law
Proof and Truth
Discussion of new research findings regarding attitudes to the Scottish jury system and illustration of the value of interdisciplinary approaches to legal research.
Society, Politics & Law
Informing reform: The views of legal professionals on the unique aspects of Scottish Law
The current study is the first to investigate the views of Scottish legal professionals on the three-verdict system, 15-person jury and simple majority verdict system.
Society, Politics & Law
In Dialogue with Dr Lee Curley about his Talk at the OPRC Launch Event
An empirical investigation into the utility of the not proven verdict
Society, Politics & Law
Cognitive and human factors in legal layperson decision making: Sources of bias in juror decision making
Three main sources of bias were focussed upon: 1) pre-trial bias; 2) cognitive bias; 3) bias from external legal actors (expert witnesses).