Evidence of defendants' adverse childhood experiences can elicit jurors' leniency in capital trials
Published Date: 3/24/2022
Source: phys.org
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur from birth to age 17. A new study examined the effect of ACEs on jurors' sentencing decisions in hypothetical death penalty cases. The study found that defense testimony elicited jurors' leniency, largely through their responses to ACE evidence.