How a Capital Trial affects its Jurors
For this blog, I wanted to find a connection between psychology and the death penalty, and I came across the topic of how a capital trial can have a negative impact on the jurors of the trial. I personally have never heard this topic discussed in any of my psychology or criminology classes before, and it is a concerning issue where the emotional and physical well-being of jurors is not discussed enough. Janvier Slick, a clinical social worker, describes capital juries as “unconsidered casualties in death penalty cases.” The Capital Jury Project reports that of the jurors they interviewed, 81% of the females and 18% of the males reported feeling regret after finding the defendant guilty, leading to a sentence of the death penalty. Additionally, 63% of the female jurors and 38% of the male jurors sought therapy after the trial. Those who witness a capital murder trial and/or impose a death sentence are more likely to have PTSD symptoms, sleep issues, difficulties with eating, sub...
