Introduction
Wrongful convictions are a serious problem. The struggles of individuals declared innocent are far from over when they leave jail. Exonerees often experience stigma and judgment from the public, which can make it harder for them to rebuild their lives. This study focuses on United States public perceptions of exonerees, with consideration for race, gender, and past criminal record. An understanding of these attitudes can allow us to address unfair treatment several innocent individuals still face after clearance.
Implications
Societal perceptions of exonerees have real-life consequences. Public attitudes can impact how much support exonerees receive, including access to financial compensation, housing or job opportunities. Black men, individuals with prior convictions and other groups might experience harsher judgment, leading to even greater challenges. This research highlights the need for public education, changes in policy, and increased awareness. This is important to ensure that all exonerees, regardless of background, receive fair treatment after release.
Methods
Researchers surveyed over 2,000 adults from across the United States to study public attitudes towards exonerees. Each participant read a short story describing the release of someone wrongfully convicted. Exoneree’s race, gender, and prior criminal history status varied depending on the story. After reading the story, participants answered a series of questions about how much they trusted the exoneree. This included whether they believed the exoneree deserved support like financial compensation or help reintegrating into society.
Findings
The study noted that social characteristics strongly influenced participants’ opinions of exonerees. Participants generally viewed black exonerees in less favourably compared to white exonerees, especially concerning trust and worthiness of support. Female exonerees received more sympathetic responses than male exonerees, especially with regards to trust and reintegration. Nonetheless, the exoneree’s prior criminal history had the most powerful effect. Exonerees with past criminal records received harsh judgments even though innocent in the cases described in the stories. Race, gender, and criminal history further amplified the negative attitudes. For example, Black men with prior records received the least supportive responses.
Limitations
The study used fictional stories to understand public views. While the findings reflected real attitudes, they do not necessarily fully capture public responses to real cases. All participants hailed from the United States so results might not apply to other cultures or countries. Furthermore, the study did not explore how religion, media exposure or personal experiences with the justice system impact opinions.
References
Proost, A., Bouchard, J. L. B., Beaudry, M., & Ha, C. Y. Y. (2023). Understanding community attitudes toward miscarriages of justice: The role of social characteristics on perceptions of wrongfully convicted exonerees. Psychology, Crime & Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2023.2265494
About the Author
Maryam Dawood is an Honours Bachelor of Science graduate in Forensic Psychology from the University of Toronto, with research experience centered on legal decision-making, correctional psychology, and the stigmatization of offenders. She intends to pursue a Master of Science in Forensic Psychology, where she will explore wrongful convictions and self-stigma among justice-involved individuals to support evidence-based reforms and rehabilitation. Connect with Maryam on LinkedIn.
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