Perceptions of Elder Neglect in the Courtroom

This study investigated the perception of elder neglect by undergraduate mock jurors. Ninety-eight men and women read fictional criminal trial summaries of a neglect case (i.e., First-Degree Criminal Abuse) in which the age of the alleged victim was 76- or 86-years-old and the alleged victim had either a cognitive deficit or a physical disability. The results showed that the alleged victim's health status affected perceptions of mock jurors. There were more guilty verdicts and higher ratings of the defendant's guilt when the alleged victim had a cognitive deficit than when she did not. These results are discussed in terms of the implications of bringing cases of elder abuse to court.