3D-printed models in the courtroom: Mock juror’s perceptions and experiences of 3D-printed models of human skeletal remains

Fawcett, Hannah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6063-4580, Ball, Jessica, Glynn, Jessica, Barnes, Aminah, Brooks, Matthew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5469-7769, Carew, Rachael and Errickson, David (2025) 3D-printed models in the courtroom: Mock juror’s perceptions and experiences of 3D-printed models of human skeletal remains. Psychiatry Psychology and Law. ISSN 1321-8719 (In Press)

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Abstract

The use of 3D-printed models of skeletal remains has notably enhanced jurors’ comprehension of forensic evidence and skeletal trauma, enabling clearer interpretations and diminishing the confusion associated with expert terminology. However, the hands-on tactile sensory engagement with these highly realistic 3D-printed models of human remains could be more distressing than traditional passive modalities. In the first study to qualitatively examine juror’s perceptions of 3D-printed skeletal remains evidence, mock-juror participants read a written summary of a murder trial before interacting with an accurate 3D-printed model of a real murder victim’s skull showing evidence of gunshot trauma. The deliberations were audio-recorded and subjected to reflective inductive semantic thematic analysis, which identified four critical themes: ‘Realistic and Creepy’, ‘Overcoming Uncomfortableness’, ‘Illustrative Tool’, and ‘A Piece of the Puzzle’. The findings revealed that 3D-printed models have an emotional impact on jurors and indicate that caution should be exercised in their use in courts.