Questionnaire survey of a mock jury on their impressions of medical-legal illustrations aimed at reducing trauma and PTSD of jurors

Abstract

Gruesome graphic evidence such as autopsy photographs and damaged corpses in criminal cases may affect some individuals involved in the trial. Specifically, individuals may suffer from psychological health issues, such as secondary traumatic stress and PTSD, and they may also be susceptible to punitive verdict bias owing to graphic evidence that often elicits a negative emotional response. In this study, we adopt medical-legal illustrations as an alternative for graphic images. The illustrations differed in the amount of detail portrayed (Realistic and inclusive of main Characteristics) and colouring (black and white or colour). Mock jurors (n = 37) were surveyed to determine which is the most suitable approach to describe graphic scenes in three cases. Emotions were assessed. In all three cases, mock jurors chose Characteristics illustrations as the most suitable – a level of detail that exaggerated some details and simplified others. Specialist forensic doctors agreed with this conclusion. Schematics and Realistic (including background information) illustrations were chosen as the most unsuitable. Realistic (including background information) illustrations in particular generated a higher emotional score than the other types.

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