When Driving Under the Influence Leads to Manslaughter: Perceptions of Plea Bargains

The present study examined perceptions of driving under the influence (DUI) manslaughter cases that result in plea bargains. Participants (32 women, 23 men) read a vignette describing a DUI case in which the intoxicated driver hit and killed another person and were then asked to answer questions about their perceptions of the case. We used a within-participant design and manipulated the age of the victim, the type of plea bargain, and the location of the victim. Results showed that participants had less support for the plea bargain when the victim was 6 years old versus 40 years old and when the plea bargain involved probation versus jail time. Sentiment indirect effect analyses indicated that participants had more negative sentiment when the victim was a child and the sentence involved probation, leading to the reduction in support for the plea. The results are discussed in terms of procedural justice theory and the impact of public perceptions on the use of plea bargains.