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Lay people in court: the experience of defendants, eyewitnesses and victims
Author(s) -
Fielding Nigel G.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the british journal of sociology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.826
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1468-4446
pISSN - 0007-1315
DOI - 10.1111/1468-4446.12018
Subject(s) - parallels , narrative , criminal court , criminology , psychology , law , criminal trial , political science , engineering , international law , philosophy , linguistics , mechanical engineering
The article considers the effect of criminal trial procedures on the experience at court of victims, witnesses and defendants. Trials for offences involving physical violence were observed, and interviews conducted with those involved. The article highlights communication problems lay people encountered relating to courtroom conventions, discusses alternative procedures granting more room for narrative testimony, and draws parallels between such an approach and principles of research methods directed to securing valid, reliable data.