Matching Items (3)
Description
The power of language in leadership positions and social movements is well established. Charismatic Language patterns have been identified as effective for influencing perception and decision-making. This study examines the use of Charismatic Language in a court of law through a randomized survey of different treatments of oral arguments in a homicide case. Results show that Charismatic Language used by the prosecution is less likely to influence a jury and can even dissuade their decision. Additionally, the study finds that Charismatic Language used by a female attorney may hinder the argument's reliability to a jury.
ContributorsSchultz, Natalie (Author) / Jensen, Ulrich (Thesis director) / Whittenton, Justin (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor)
Created2023-05
Description
While sexual assault is a crime that frequently occurs, public perceptions tend to greatly differ from the reality of the act. Sexual assault is the most underreported crime in the United States. This is perhaps due to the negative stigma that surrounds victims of sexual assault and the presence of rape myths in society today. Perceptions of sexual assault can vary depending on the relationship between the victim and the offender and the presence of physical evidence, if any, that was collected at the scene of the crime. This study uses data on sex crimes reported to the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 2008, to address the following research questions: How are sexual assault cases prosecuted when the offender is a stranger vs. non-stranger to the victim? Does physical evidence play a role in the charging decisions of stranger vs. non-stranger cases? Data are analyzed using logistic and multinomial regression. Findings show that there is little to no significance among victim-offender relationship and charging decision, but this varies among different evidence types. Implications of this study and areas of future research are discussed.
ContributorsWeaver, Cheyenne Marie (Author) / Yan, Shi (Thesis advisor) / Holtfreter, Kristy (Committee member) / Spohn, Cassia (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2024
Description
Prosecutors played an important role in the rise of mass incarceration and the perpetuation of racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal legal system in the United States. The progressive prosecution movement emerged as a response to those issues and, although the movement has sparked significant debate, there has been relatively little empirical research examining whether progressive lead prosecutors reduce excess punishment and alleviate disparities. In this dissertation, I partnered with two prosecutors’ offices with progressive lead prosecutors to help fill that gap. Using case processing records obtained from both offices (all adult criminal cases initiated between 2017-2022), I found that prosecutors under progressive lead prosecutors tended to be less punitive in charging and plea-bargaining, but their less punitive approach did not eliminate disparities. While larger plea-discounts under one of the progressive lead prosecutors eliminated the racial disparity in that decision point, disparities in case declination/dismissal, diversion, and felony downgrade decisions remained, even under the more progressive administrations. From interviews with line prosecutors, supervisors, and the lead prosecutors in both jurisdictions (N=43), I found that prosecutors in these offices faced barriers to implementing reform both from within their office, in the form of the principal-agent and mid-level manager problems, and from outside of the office, in the form of resistance from judges, law enforcement, and some segments of the public, as well as a lack of cooperation from defense attorneys. Broadly, my findings highlight the fluid nature of power within courts and the tendency of court communities to seek homoeostasis and minimize reforms, even when those reforms originate from within the court community.
ContributorsBowman, Rachel (Author) / Gould, Jon (Thesis advisor) / Spohn, Cassia (Thesis advisor) / Mitchell, Ojmarrh (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2024