Improving communication with triers of fact to reduce bias in the criminal justice system

Meet Mr Renan Benigno Saraiva, a PhD candidate at University of Portsmouth and Maastricht University within The House of Legal Psychology Joint Degree Programme. Renan is one of our six Research Supervisors for 2018-19. His research interests focuses on applied cognitive psychology in forensic settings, including eyewitness testimony, investigative interviewing, and criminal behaviour.

Project description

Effective communication with judges, jurors, and other triers of fact is of utmost importance to guarantee more reliable and fair trials. Triers of fact perform a vital role in the criminal justice system, but potential biases and unawareness of evidence-based facts can impair decision making. Most juries, for example, are unaware of the sources of error in eyewitness evidence, and consequently place undue faith in its veracity. This project will test the effects of communicating guidelines to triers of fact in legal decision making. We hope to develop effective communication procedures to improve decisions and fairness in the criminal justice system.

The remaining five Supervisors will be announced shortly.
Stay tuned for more information!