Pozzulo, J. (2017). Jurors’ perceptions of the young eyewitness. In J. Pozzulo, The young eyewitness: How well do children and adolescents describe and identify perpetrators? (pp. 139-153). Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/14956-009
In previous chapters we explored the ability of the young eyewitness to provide descriptions and identifications of a stranger–perpetrator. We examined protocols and procedures as well as other factors that may influence the young eyewitness. Once this evidence is obtained, it may make its way to the courtroom, where the young eyewitness will testify. This chapter examines the juror–jury decision-making research available on young eyewitnesses giving testimony. A distinction has to be made between the eyewitness who is a bystander versus the eyewitness who is a victim. Much of the jury–juror decision-making research has been conducted with the child as eyewitness–victim, where the crime was child sexual abuse. In these cases and studies, the identity of the perpetrator may not be an issue. Thus, the literature describing the young eyewitness–victim of child sexual abuse may not apply to cases in which the young eyewitness is an eyewitness–bystander and is providing a description of the perpetrator and making a lineup identification. In this chapter, I provide an overview of the perceptions of the young eyewitness–bystander and the young eyewitness–victim, where the literature permits. Comparisons with adult witnesses will be made when possible as well. Here, I focus on the young eyewitness who takes the stand and on the factors that may influence jurors’ perceptions and perhaps ultimately the verdict. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)