Influence Of ‘Pretty Privilege’ On Jury Sentencing Decisions

This paper discusses how the defendant's physical attractiveness impacts jury sentencing decisions. It was conducted using a survey method, and case studies were analyzed to gain a deeper and better understanding of how beauty, or attractiveness in general, plays a role in the legal system and influences sentencing. A Google Form was circulated in WhatsApp groups among college students to assess the current status of this topic. The survey included open-ended questions, scenario-based questions, and multiple-choice questions. There were 11 participants, and the results are presented in a tabular format. For the case studies, real-life criminal trials were examined to provide a better understanding of the topic. Two cases are discussed in this paper, demonstrating how "pretty privilege," along with public and media influence, affects jury sentencing decisions.