NCJ Number
102453
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1986) Pages: 187-201
Date Published
1986
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This review of social science literature pertaining to legal procedures dealing with media coverage of the courts concludes that a serious lack of knowledge exists regarding how judicial actions can ameliorate the potentially prejudicial impact of news coverage.
Abstract
This analysis reviews studies of the extent and nature of news coverage, research on the impact of news coverage in actual trials, and the impact of news coverage and judicial remedies in simulated cases. Its content analysis of newspaper coverage reveals that serious crime dominates the news and that papers tend to present the prosecution's side. Studies on the effects of actual news coverage on potential jurors or jury verdicts, however, is not very useful. While the results of studies using simulated cases are mixed, they do suggest that judicial instructions, voir dire, or deliberation do little to ameliorate the effects of publicity. The paper argues that carefully conducted empirical research could provide important information to the courts and suggests directions and methodological caveats for such research. Over 60 references. (Author abstract modified)