open access

https://hdl.handle.net/2115/52027

Citizen's psychological knowledge, legal knowledge, and attitudes toward participation in the new Japanese legal system, saiban-in seido

英語

Kassin et al.'s statements on eyewitness testimony

2011

Routledge

Psychology, Crime & Law

17(7)

621-641

A new procedure, saiban-in seido, will be introduced in the Japanese criminal court in 2009. A mixed tribunal of three professional judges and six lay people selected from a list of voters will deliberate the verdict in serious criminal cases such as murder, rape, and arson. This study researches lay people's attitudes toward the new system, their psychological knowledge (e.g., the reliability of eyewitness testimony) and legal knowledge (e.g., 'presumed innocent'), and the relationship between attitude and knowledge. Study 1 examined the responses of 294 citizens to a questionnaire; 90 responses are examined in Study 2. In both studies, respondents showed concerns about their lack of ability and knowledge to become a lay judge. Although legal knowledge was related to attitude - i.e., the more legal knowledge, the less negativity - no relationship was found between psychological knowledge and attitude. Relevant support for citizens to become lay judges was discussed.

学術雑誌論文

Accepted Manuscript

This is an electronic version of an article published in Psychology, Crime & Law, 17(7), pp.621-641, 2011. Psychology, Crime & Law is available online at: http://www.informaworld.com/openurl?genre=article&issn=1068-316X&volume=17&issue=7&spage=621

1068-316X