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Author Topic: Unattractive Defendants 22 Percent More Likely to Be Convicted  (Read 2353 times)

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Offline Chris_

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Unattractive Defendants 22 Percent More Likely to Be Convicted
« on: May 19, 2010, 03:08:53 AM »
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According to a Cornell University study, unattractive defendants are 22 percent more likely to be convicted than good-looking ones. And the unattractive also get slapped with harsher sentences - an average of 22 months longer in prison.

The study, "When Emotionality Trumps Reason," was authored by Cornell graduate Justin Gunnell and Stephen Ceci, a professor of developmental psychology. It examines how some jurors make decisions rationally, based on facts and logic, while others reason emotionally, taking into consideration factors unrelated to the case - attractiveness being one of them.

In serious cases with strong evidence, there was little difference in the conviction rate between attractive and unattractive defendants. But in more minor cases, with ambiguous evidence, jurors were more biased toward the good-looking.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/17/national/main6492046.shtml

I guess some of you are just out of luck. :whistling:
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Offline Alpha Mare

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Re: Unattractive Defendants 22 Percent More Likely to Be Convicted
« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2010, 03:54:13 AM »
Heck, I've never even gotten a ticket.  :-*
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Offline longview

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Re: Unattractive Defendants 22 Percent More Likely to Be Convicted
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2010, 06:30:17 AM »
I guess the old saying, "If you can't be pretty, you'd better be good," was talking about this.
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Offline Alpha Mare

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Re: Unattractive Defendants 22 Percent More Likely to Be Convicted
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2010, 07:21:58 AM »
Quote from: longview on May 19, 2010, 06:30:17 AM
I guess the old saying, "If you can't be pretty, you'd better be good," was talking about this.

That explains this:
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Offline DumbAss Tanker

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Re: Unattractive Defendants 22 Percent More Likely to Be Convicted
« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2010, 09:00:21 AM »
While there is no doubt some truth to the idea, it is still extremely difficult if not impossible to isolate that as the sole variable responsible, since people who are stupid, clueless, or have mental issues (Not sufficient to amount to a competence issue) also tend not to clean up or present as well in court.
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Offline Wineslob

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Re: Unattractive Defendants 22 Percent More Likely to Be Convicted
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2010, 10:39:31 AM »
Quote from: DumbAss Tanker on May 19, 2010, 09:00:21 AM
While there is no doubt some truth to the idea, it is still extremely difficult if not impossible to isolate that as the sole variable responsible, since people who are stupid, clueless, or have mental issues (Not sufficient to amount to a competence issue) also tend not to clean up or present as well in court.

My brother in law was killed by a drunk driver several years ago. The woman that did this was essentially a crack whore, judging by her arrest pics. However, in court you would have thought she was a high priced lawyer. It helped get her off with a VERY light sentence.
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Offline Alpha Mare

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Re: Unattractive Defendants 22 Percent More Likely to Be Convicted
« Reply #6 on: May 19, 2010, 10:55:40 AM »
I often end up sitting in court waiting to testify (animal abuse) and it never ceases to amaze what some people wear and how they act. No respect for the court at all- or themselves either I guess. The judges don't hide what they think of it, that's for sure.
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Offline Hawkgirl

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Re: Unattractive Defendants 22 Percent More Likely to Be Convicted
« Reply #7 on: May 19, 2010, 11:07:08 AM »
Quote from: Alpha Mare on May 19, 2010, 10:55:40 AM
I often end up sitting in court waiting to testify (animal abuse) and it never ceases to amaze what some people wear and how they act. No respect for the court at all- or themselves either I guess. The judges don't hide what they think of it, that's for sure.

Anyone who abuses animals should get no leniency, ever.  No matter how they are dressed in court.
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Offline SSG Snuggle Bunny

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Re: Unattractive Defendants 22 Percent More Likely to Be Convicted
« Reply #8 on: May 19, 2010, 01:14:07 PM »
How about those of us that have looks that could kill?

*preens*
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Offline The Village Idiot

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Re: Unattractive Defendants 22 Percent More Likely to Be Convicted
« Reply #9 on: May 19, 2010, 01:21:20 PM »
Quote from: Alpha Mare on May 19, 2010, 10:55:40 AM
I often end up sitting in court waiting to testify (animal abuse) and it never ceases to amaze what some people wear and how they act. No respect for the court at all- or themselves either I guess. The judges don't hide what they think of it, that's for sure.

People are not taught respect they are taught self-esteem and me me me
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Offline Freeper

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Re: Unattractive Defendants 22 Percent More Likely to Be Convicted
« Reply #10 on: May 19, 2010, 03:16:33 PM »
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Offline DumbAss Tanker

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Re: Unattractive Defendants 22 Percent More Likely to Be Convicted
« Reply #11 on: May 19, 2010, 05:01:08 PM »
Quote from: Mr Snuggle Bunny on May 19, 2010, 01:14:07 PM
How about those of us that have looks that could kill?


Well, it got Medusa beheaded.

 :evillaugh:

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