Effect of Juror Gender on Attitudes Toward Male and Female Sex Offenders

The general public's perception of possible treatment outcomes for convicted sex offenders potentially affects sentencing in a jury trial, public policies, and the success of offenders' reintegration back into the community. The current study investigated whether the gender of the juror and offender significantly affects attitudes toward sex offenders, the severity of their crimes, and potential for rehabilitation. To measure these attitudes, a previously established questionnaire (Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders Scale) was used in conjunction with a vignette about a sexual crime and information about the offender who potentially committed it. Participants were selected using convenience sampling and online data collection methods. The results of the study show significant main effects for both juror and offender gender affecting juror leniency (ATS) scores, as well as significant interactions between juror and offender gender in juror response scores, indicating that both genders may significantly influence biases. These biases may affect juror decision-making in a courtroom, and therefore may affect the conviction and sentencing of offenders of sexual crimes, as well as how they are treated in the community.