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Effects of the Dynamite Charge on the Deliberations of Deadlocked Mock Juries

Effects of the Dynamite Charge on the Deliberations of Deadlocked Mock Juries When juries report that they are deadlocked, judges often deliver the dynamite charge, a supplemental instruction that urges jurors to rethink their views in an effort to reach a unanimous verdict. The present study evaluated the impact of this procedure on 378 subjects who participated in 63 deadlocked mock juries. Results indicated that the dynamite charge caused jurors in the voting minority to feel coerced and change their votes, reduced the pressure felt by those in the majority. and hastened the deliberation process in juries that favored conviction. These findings raise serious questions concerning the use of this controversial charge. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Law and Human Behavior American Psychological Association

Effects of the Dynamite Charge on the Deliberations of Deadlocked Mock Juries

Law and Human Behavior , Volume 17 (6): 19 – Dec 1, 1993

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References (15)

Publisher
American Psychological Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1993 American Psychological Association
ISSN
0147-7307
eISSN
1573-661X
DOI
10.1007/BF01044686
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

When juries report that they are deadlocked, judges often deliver the dynamite charge, a supplemental instruction that urges jurors to rethink their views in an effort to reach a unanimous verdict. The present study evaluated the impact of this procedure on 378 subjects who participated in 63 deadlocked mock juries. Results indicated that the dynamite charge caused jurors in the voting minority to feel coerced and change their votes, reduced the pressure felt by those in the majority. and hastened the deliberation process in juries that favored conviction. These findings raise serious questions concerning the use of this controversial charge.

Journal

Law and Human BehaviorAmerican Psychological Association

Published: Dec 1, 1993

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