TY - JOUR
T1 - Yes, I did it, but don't blame me
T2 - Perceptions of excuse defenses
AU - Heath, Wendy P.
AU - Stone, Jeff
AU - Darley, John M.
AU - Grannemann, Bruce D.
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - According to some, it is increasingly common for defendants to admit they committed an offense but to argue that they shouldn't be held legally responsible because they have an excuse. The present study was conducted to investigate views of excuse defenses. Forty-three participants rated 15 different excuse defenses (e.g., steroid use) on a number of characteristics (e.g., persuasiveness of defense). Participants also indicated whether they would be willing to change an assigned sentence (increase or decrease sentence, recommend treatment or probation) in the presence of each excuse defense. Ratings revealed that excuses vary in persuasiveness, with the persuasiveness of an excuse associated with the defendant's perceived amount of responsibility for the act and control over the criminal act and excusing condition. Defendants providing excuses seen as more persuasive tended to receive shorter sentences and more treatment recommendations. Possible factors influencing judgments are discussed.
AB - According to some, it is increasingly common for defendants to admit they committed an offense but to argue that they shouldn't be held legally responsible because they have an excuse. The present study was conducted to investigate views of excuse defenses. Forty-three participants rated 15 different excuse defenses (e.g., steroid use) on a number of characteristics (e.g., persuasiveness of defense). Participants also indicated whether they would be willing to change an assigned sentence (increase or decrease sentence, recommend treatment or probation) in the presence of each excuse defense. Ratings revealed that excuses vary in persuasiveness, with the persuasiveness of an excuse associated with the defendant's perceived amount of responsibility for the act and control over the criminal act and excusing condition. Defendants providing excuses seen as more persuasive tended to receive shorter sentences and more treatment recommendations. Possible factors influencing judgments are discussed.
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U2 - 10.1177/009318530303100204
DO - 10.1177/009318530303100204
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:0242354016
SN - 0093-1853
VL - 31
SP - 187
EP - 226
JO - Journal of Psychiatry and Law
JF - Journal of Psychiatry and Law
IS - 2
ER -