Psychology and the Law Study (1) |
Study 1
A defendant, Jordan, is on trial for a minor assault charge stemming from a conflict with his neighbor Alex. The incident occurred in a shared hallway outside their apartments when Jordan confronted Alex over persistent noise complaints. According to a witness, Alex raised his voice and accused Jordan of purposefully being disruptive, which visibly agitated Jordan. As the argument became more heated, Jordan allegedly pushed Alex causing Alex to stumble but not sustain any serious injuries.
Jordan immediately apologized after the incident and has since been cooperative throughout the legal process, attending all required court dates. Jordan has no prior criminal record, is employed full time, and has received good character references from neighbors and colleagues who describe Jordan as generally polite and quiet.