Prevalence and severity of trauma- and stressor-related symptoms among jurors: A review

Lonergan, Michelle; Leclerc, Marie-Ève; Descamps, Mélanie; Pigeon, Sereena; Brunet, Alain

doi:10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2016.07.003

Cited by 26 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…There is a need to understand if and what kind of avoidance symptoms lawyers develop toward the traumatic material, how those symptoms manifest themselves at the job, and how they impact the quality of the services they dispense. Lonergan et al (2016) conducted a review of the literature on trauma-related symptoms in jurors and concluded that "graphic evidence," "trial complexity," and "deliberations" were factors regularly associated with PTSD symptoms. There is a need to understand how various types of trauma exposure impact symptom levels among lawyers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When the Lawyer Becomes Traumatized: A Scoping Review

2020

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Lawyers can be exposed to cases involving traumatic elements of crimes. Such exposure may result in symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and have adverse effects on the lawyers’ capacities to work. A scoping review was conducted to summarize original investigations of work-related PTSD among lawyers in terms of (a) trauma exposure conceptualization and operationalization, (b) symptom severity, (c) prevalence, and (d) risk factors. The scoping review also aimed to highlight potential directions for future studies and clinical implications. Literature searches were conducted in PsycINFO, Embase, Pubmed, MEDLINE, PILOTS, and Google Scholar. Of 341 initial publications, 9 were included. A majority conceptualized the impact of work-related trauma exposure as secondary traumatic stress and operationalized work-related trauma exposure as the number of cases or clients involving traumatic material. Levels of PTSD symptoms reported by lawyers were positively related to levels of work-related trauma exposure.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When the Lawyer Becomes Traumatized: A Scoping Review

2020

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“…Explicit evidence includes photographs of the victim's wounds, autopsy photographs, crime scenes and the murder weapon. The effect of graphic evidence on jurors has been reported for over forty years (Grady, Reiser, Garcia, Koeu, & Scurich, 2018;Kaplan, 1985); it has been noted that this is not only a mental health issue but also a public health concern (Lonergan, Leclerc, Descamps, Pigeon, & Brunet, 2016). For example, if someone suffers from secondary trauma or PTSD owing to their participation in a criminal trial, it would take time and money to recover from this ordeal (Dunn, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, if someone suffers from secondary trauma or PTSD owing to their participation in a criminal trial, it would take time and money to recover from this ordeal (Dunn, 2018). Most countries that employ a jury system do not have a strong enough post-trial support system for the jurors (Bertrand & Paetsch, 2008;Lonergan et al, 2016). As such, if a juror wants medical support, they would have to arrange this for themselves (Cheung, 2016;Nanbu, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Questionnaire survey of a mock jury on their impressions of medical-legal illustrations aimed at reducing trauma and PTSD of jurors

Haragi

Yamaguchi

Okuhara

et al. 2020

Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine

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Gruesome graphic evidence such as autopsy photographs and damaged corpses in criminal cases may affect some individuals involved in the trial. Specifically, individuals may suffer from psychological health issues, such as secondary traumatic stress and PTSD, and they may also be susceptible to punitive verdict bias owing to graphic evidence that often elicits a negative emotional response. In this study, we adopt medical-legal illustrations as an alternative for graphic images. The illustrations differed in the amount of detail portrayed (Realistic and inclusive of main Characteristics) and colouring (black and white or colour). Mock jurors (n ¼ 37) were surveyed to determine which is the most suitable approach to describe graphic scenes in three cases. Emotions were assessed. In all three cases, mock jurors chose Characteristics illustrations as the most suitablea level of detail that exaggerated some details and simplified others. Specialist forensic doctors agreed with this conclusion. Schematics and Realistic (including background information) illustrations were chosen as the most unsuitable. Realistic (including background information) illustrations in particular generated a higher emotional score than the other types. ARTICLE HISTORY

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“…Studies on American and Canadian criminal action cases have revealed exposure to graphic evidence to be associated with juror and legal professional stress, including vicarious traumatisation and symptoms such as anxiety, depression, flashbacks and nightmares (Robertson, Davies, & Nettleingham, 2009;Mattison, 2012;Lonergan, Leclerc, Descamps, Pigeon, & Brunet, 2016;Bertrand & Paetsch, 2008;Courts, 1998). There is some evidence that severe PTSD symptoms result from prolonged exposure to gruesome graphic evidence (Courts, 1998); the longer trials are extended, the more jurors are prone to psychological distress (Bornstein, Miller, Nemeth, Page, & Musil, 2005;Courts, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is some evidence that severe PTSD symptoms result from prolonged exposure to gruesome graphic evidence (Courts, 1998); the longer trials are extended, the more jurors are prone to psychological distress (Bornstein, Miller, Nemeth, Page, & Musil, 2005;Courts, 1998). This situation presents a very specific public health challenge (Lonergan et al, 2016). People who have served in the jury system are more likely prone to secondary traumatic stress or PTSD symptoms because of gruesome criminal trials.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interviewing forensic specialists regarding medical-legal illustration methods to replace gruesome graphic evidence

Haragi

Yamaguchi

Okuhara

et al. 2019

Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine

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Jurors are often subject to psychological health issues like secondary trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to exposure to gruesome graphic evidence. Against this background, the current study investigated the usefulness of medical-legal illustrations that include important details on the victim, including nature and position of wounds and cause of death. However, there have been no attempts to establish an effective format for medical-legal illustrations to facilitate the delivery of accurate information while also minimising traumatic stress or PTSD symptoms. We interviewed forensic doctors to determine the most suitable representational format for conveying relevant information. We concluded that the degree of detail (realistic and inclusive of characteristics) and colouring were important factors in determining the effectiveness of illustrations' representational format.

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Prevalence and severity of trauma- and stressor-related symptoms among jurors: A review

Cited by 26 publications

References 23 publications

When the Lawyer Becomes Traumatized: A Scoping Review

When the Lawyer Becomes Traumatized: A Scoping Review

Questionnaire survey of a mock jury on their impressions of medical-legal illustrations aimed at reducing trauma and PTSD of jurors

Interviewing forensic specialists regarding medical-legal illustration methods to replace gruesome graphic evidence

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