Rape juries swayed by own experiences

Researchers conducting mock rape trials found that a juror’s educational background had significant implications for the verdict
Researchers conducting mock rape trials found that a juror’s educational background had significant implications for the verdict
ANNA GOWTHORPE/PRESS ASSOCIATION

Nearly half of jurors in rape cases come to a guilty verdict before they retire to deliberate, research shows.

A total of 43 per cent of jurors make their decision in advance, with the figure at 83 per cent if they themselves had been the victim of a sexual offence. Deliberations did have some impact with 13 per cent changing their minds after discussion with fellow jurors, the research found.

It also showed that a juror’s educational background had significant implications for verdicts. Jurors who were less well educated were more likely to vote “not guilty” because of an increased tendency to hold more sexually aggressive attitudes, than were those educated to degree level or above.

The study was conducted by the University of Huddersfield