Research has shown that for certain types of crimes, defendants from specific ethic backgrounds are more likely to be found guilty when compared to defendants from other backgrounds. This is reflected in an over-representation of certain minority groups in the Australian prison system. This research aims to determine whether gender- and race-based stereotypes influence jurors’ judgements; whether the influence of stereotypes survives jury deliberation; and whether requiring jurors to reach only a majority decision increases the impact of stereotypes on their verdicts. It is expected that this will lead to a better understanding of when juries are functioning in a fair and unbiased manner, thereby promoting a fairer legal system for all.
Investigators
- Dr Blake McKimmie, University of Queensland
- Professor Deborah Terry, University of Queensland
- Professor Regina Schuller, York University, Canada
Funding
- McKimmie, B. M., Terry, D. J., & Schuller, R. A. (2005-2007). $185,000 – Impaired jury decision making: The impact of stereotypes in the Australian court room. ARC Discovery Grant Scheme
- McKimmie, B. M. (2005). $14,226 – The effect of decision rule on impaired juror decision-making. QUT Early Career Researcher Scheme
- McKimmie, B. M. (2004) $10,000 – The effect of jury discussion on impaired juror decision-making. QUT Faculty of Health Early Career Researcher Scheme
Publications
- Strub, T., & McKimmie, B. M. (Accepted 4 August, 2015). Sugar and spice and all things nice: The role of gender stereotypes in jurors’ perceptions. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law.
- McKimmie, B. M., Masser, B. M., & Bongiorno, R. (2013). Looking shifty but telling the truth: The effect of witness demeanor on mock jurors’ perceptions. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 21(2), 297-310.
- McKimmie, B. M., Masters, J. M., Masser, B. M., Schuller, R. A., & Terry, D. J. (Accepted 6/9/2012). Stereotypical and counter-stereotypical defendants: Who is he and what was the case against her? Psychology, Public Policy, and Law.
- McKimmie, B. M., Newton, S. A., Terry, D. J., & Schuller, R. A. (Accepted, 13 July, 2012) It’s not what she says, it’s how she says it: The influence of language complexity on perceived gender stereotypicality of expert testimony. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law.
- McKimmie, B. M. & Masser, B. Gender in the courtroom. (2010). In J. Adler (Ed.), Forensic Psychology: Concepts, Debates and Practice (2nd ed) (pp. 95-122). Devon: Willan Publishing.
- Antrobus, E., McKimmie, B. M., & Newcombe, P. (2011). Community members’ beliefs about children in Australian Courts. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 1-20
- Strub, T. & McKimmie, B. M. (2011). Note Takers Who Review Are Less Vulnerable To The Influence of Stereotypes Than Note Takers Who Do Not Review. Psychology Crime and Law, 1-18.
- Schuller, R. A., Terry, D. J., & McKimmie, B. M. (2005). The impact of expert testimony on jurors’ decisions: Gender of the expert and testimony complexity. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 35(6), 1266-1280.
- McKimmie, B. M., Newton, C. J., Terry, D. J., & Schuller, R. A. (2004). Jurors’ responses to expert witness testimony: The effects of gender stereotypes. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 7(2), 131-143.
- Schuller, R. A., McKimmie, B. M., & Janz, T. (2004). Trials of battered women who kill: The impact of expert testimony on jurors’ decisions. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 11(1), 1-12.
- Schuller, R., Terry, D. J., & McKimmie, B. M. (2001). The impact of expert testimony on jurors’ decisions: The role of gender of the expert. Law and Psychology Review, 25, 58-79.
- McKimmie, B., Terry, D., & Schuller, R. (2006). Expert testimony: The influence of expert witness gender. Hearsay: The Fortnightly e-Bulletin of the Bar Association of Queensland, 4, 5-7.
- McKimmie, B., Terry, D., & Schuller, R. (2006). Expert testimony: The influence of expert witness gender. Civil Procedure News NSW, 3(7), 81-83.