A Life,Not a Nameless Victim: The Impact of Victim Photographs on Perceptions of Victims and Guilt Judgments

Abstract

The identifiable victim effect suggests that images of murder victims taken before their deaths can increase positive perceptions of those victims, potentially influencing jurors’ decision-making. We investigated whether viewing pre-mortem photographs of murder victims biased jurors’ perceptions of the victim, and consequently their judgments of the defendant. Across three between-subjects experimental studies (total Ns = 2,456), participants who viewed pre-mortem photographs of the victim (vs. did not view) rated the victim more positively. These more positive perceptions, in turn, predicted a higher likelihood of rendering guilty verdicts. Notably, the effect was stronger for White and Black victims than for Latina victims. These findings suggest that even well-intentioned uses of pre-mortem photographs may inadvertently bias jurors and contribute to racial disparities in the administration of justice.