Research Questions
- Are we more skeptical of alibi statements given by sleepy people?
- How do jurors judge confessions made under fatigued conditions?
Purpose
The purpose of studying how sleep and fatigue influence judgment in legal contexts is to deepen our understanding of bias and improve fairness in the justice system. By examining whether jurors or investigators are more skeptical of statements made by fatigued individuals, we can identify potential sources of bias that lead to wrongful judgments. Studying the effect of fatigue in alibi statements and confessions highlights how vulnerable people may be judged unfairly due to conditions beyond their control. Understanding these dynamics also informs legal procedures, pointing to when it might be necessary to consider a suspect's mental and physical state during questioning.
Previous Work
How sleep and fatigue shape statements in evidence: A psycho-legal perspective (Krizan & Curran, 2024)
How sleep disruption impacts the evidentiary value of statements and confessions: Toward evidence-based standards (Krizan et al., 2026)
Curran, B., Krizan, Z., & Miller, A. (2025, March). Does being sleepy impact whether other people believe you? [Conference Presentation]. American Psychology-Law Society Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico.