Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5853-8300

Date Available

12-11-2025

Year of Publication

2025

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College

Arts and Sciences

Department/School/Program

Psychology

Faculty

Jennifer Hunt

Faculty

Michael Bardo

Abstract

Grand juries have faced heightened scrutiny in recent decades following high-profile cases involving police use of lethal force against Black civilians. In 2020, Police officers killed Breonna Taylor while executing a search warrant at her home. Despite widespread public outcry, it remains unclear how prosecutors failed to indict the officers involved on charges directly related to her death. Guided by critical race theory, procedural justice, and theories of authority, the current project used reflexive thematic analysis to examine the Breonna Taylor grand jury proceedings. We identified two main themes: structural influences and narrative influences. Structural influences examine how prosecutorial authority, control, and strategic structuring of evidence are reinforced and upheld by the design of grand jury proceedings. Narrative influences explore the impact of prosecutorial language on juror engagement and inquiry, as well as how specific linguistic framing may have shaped jurors’ perceptions of key individuals. We discuss the implications of these findings and the need for greater transparency and continued research into these closed legal proceedings. We discuss potential implications for prosecutors, grand juries, and the broader legal system.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2025.580

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