Perceptions of children during a police interview: A comparison of alleged victims and suspects

摘要

The present study investigated jury-eligible undergraduates' perceptions of alleged child victims vs. child suspects. Participants read a transcript of a police officer questioning a child who was a victim or a suspect of a crime. The child's age (7, 11, or 14 years) and whether the child admitted involvement in the incident were systematically varied. Results indicated that, under certain conditions, individuals viewed suspects as less credible and less suggestible than victims of the same age. Also, those who viewed the police as fair were particularly likely to perceive that the child, regardless of victim or suspect status, was involved in the crime. Findings have implications for the treatment of child victims and defendants in the U.S. legal system.