Citation

Dunlap EE, Golding JM, Hodell EC, Marsil DF. J. Elder Abuse Negl. 2007; 19(3-4): 19-39.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 118 Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506, USA. eedunl2@uky.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

18160379

Abstract

A community sample of 226 participants (41% men, 59% women) who answered questions about a trial summary that manipulated what type of witness (a 45-year-old hearsay [second-hand information based on the report of a crime victim] witness, a 75-year-old hearsay witness, or the 75-year-old victim) presented an allegation of elder physical abuse. Overall, participants who read the testimony of a 45-year-old hearsay witness had higher conviction rates than participants who read the testimony of the 75-year-old hearsay witness or the elder victim. Additionally, participants who had previously been victims of abuse and/or who had positive attitudes toward elderly people rendered more pro-prosecution verdicts. Finally, as the age of the participant increased so did conviction rates.

Language: en