Joanna Pozzulo

Research Interests

The primary goal of my research is to understand how memory in the context of witnessing crime differs across the lifespan focusing on the young eyewitness. On an applied level, I am interested in developing age-appropriate identification procedures that police can use with eyewitnesses to reduce the likelihood of wrongful conviction. Also, within an eyewitness context, I examine factors that influence the recall and identification accuracy of “familiar-strangers”. Relatedly, I am interested extralegal factors that influence juror decision-making within a context of sexual assault.

You can read more about Dr. Pozzulo’s research in her blog, “On the Witness Stand” (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/on-the-witness-stand) published in Psychology Today.

Dr. Pozzulo is the Director of the Mental Health and Well-being Research and Training Hub.

As a secondary line of research, I am interested in knowledge mobilization for well-being as it relates to improving everyday life. Specifically, I am interested in how reading impacts well-being.

I created and run the digital Reading for Well-Being Community Book Club where I select evidence-based books for well-being and personal growth, selected as Professor Pozzulo’s Picks. All are welcome to join and there are no costs. More information and sign up is available here, https://carleton.ca/mental-health/mewerths-reading-for-well-being-community-book-club/

I am the host of the Reading for Well-Being Podcast where I interview the authors of her book club picks, listen here, https://carleton.ca/mental-health/reading-for-well-being-podcast/

PUBLICATIONS

Books:

Forthcoming:

Pozzulo, J., Pica, E., Fraser, B., & Sheahan, C. (forthcoming). I spy with my little eye: Real-life cases of wrongful conviction involving a young eyewitness. Oxford University Press. (250pp)

Pozzulo, J.D., Sheahan, C., & Pica, E. (2019). Familiarity and conviction in the criminal justice system: Definitions, theory, and eyewitness research. Oxford University Press. (144pp)

Pozzulo, J.D. (2016). The young eyewitness: How well do children and adolescents describe and identify perpetrators? American Psychological Association. (232pp)

Books edited:

Pica, E., Ross, D., & Pozzulo, J. (Eds.). (2024). The impact of technological advances on the legal system: Psychological implications for eyewitness accuracy. Routledge/Taylor & Francis. (462pp)

Pozzulo, J.D., Pica, E., & Sheahan, C. (Eds.). (2020). Memory and sexual misconduct: Psychological research for criminal justice. Taylor & Francis Group. (238pp)

Pozzulo, J.D., & Bennell, C. (Eds.). (2018). Working with trauma-exposed children and adolescents: Evidence-based and age-appropriate practices. Taylor & Francis Group. (332pp)

Toglia, M., Ross, D., Pozzulo, J.D., & Pica, E. (Eds.). (2014). The elderly eyewitness in court. Taylor & Francis Group. (390pp)

Articles in refereed journals:

Fraser, B., Pica, E., & Pozzulo, J. (2025). Admissibility of Prior Sexual History Evidence:

Examining Its Impact on Mock-Jurors’ Judgements When Gender and Race are Considered. Behavioral Sciences & the Law. http://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.70018

Fraser, B. M., & Pozzulo, J. D. (2025). Delayed Reporting of Sexual Assault in Sports: The

Impact of Decade-Long Delays on Mock-Jurors’ Perceptions and Decision-Making. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605251381848

Fraser, B., Pica, E., Pozzulo, J. D., Korn, J., & Scharfe, C. (2025). Beyond the evidence: How race, chronological age, and developmental age shape juror verdicts in sexual assault cases. Behavioral Sciences & the Law. https://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.2725

Pozzulo, J., Stone, A., Vettese, A. (2025). Designing a graduate level peer-wellness coaching course.  Health Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/00178969251334905

Vettese, A., & Pozzulo, J. (2025). Indigenous Canadians take the stand: The influence of mock-juror perceptions and verdict decisions. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-025-09742-w

Hildenbrand, A., Thompson, L.E., Pozzulo, J., & Sherratt, K. (2025). Mock-juror decision-making: The influence of inconsistencies, situation type, and defendant and victim race. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-025-09733-x

Pica, E., Bride, H., Lamirande, A., & Pozzulo, J. (2024). The influence of assault type, delayed reporting, and testimony inconsistencies on mock jurors’ judgments. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-024-09717-3

Thompson, L. E., & Pozzulo, J. (2024). How length of and reason for delayed reporting influence mock-jurors’ judgments in a sexual assault trial. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-024-09664-z

Barager, R.T., Thompson, L.E. & Pozzulo, J. (2024). Perceptions in a sexual assault trial: The influence of age and race on Canadian mock-jurors. Journal of Police Criminal Psychology, 40, 128-140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-024-09721-7

Vettese, A., Pica, E., & Pozzulo, J. (2024). House of worship mass shooting: The influence of defendant age, religion, and victim religion on mock-juror decision-making. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 39, 693–705. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-024-09695-6

Fraser, B. M., Pozzulo, J. D., & Sheahan, C. (2023). Eyewitness accuracy: Examining scent cues as a form of context reinstatement. The American Journal of Forensic Psychology, 41(2), 3-26.

Pica, E., Sheahan, C.L., & Pozzulo, J. (2023). How identification decision, eyewitness age, and familiarity with a defendant influences mock jurors’ decisions. American Journal of Forensic Psychology, 41, 25-39.

Pica, E., Sheahan, C.L., Pozzulo, J., & Vettese, A. (2023). Prior allegations matter: Mock jurors’ perceptions of sexual harassment. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. Advance Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-023-09632-z

Ellingwood, H., Pica, E., Pozzulo, J., & Schultheis, E. (2023). The influence of victim sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity on mock jurors’ judgments. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 38, 462-468. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-022-09533-7

Pozzulo, J., Vettese, A., & Stone, A. (2023). A community mental health and well-being university-level course: Design and implementation. Journal of Experiential Education. Advance online publication.  https://doi.org/10.1177/10538259231217460

Fraser, B. M., Pica, E., & Pozzulo, J. D. (2023). Mock-Jurors’ Judgements in a Sexual Assault Case: The Influence of Defendant Race and Occupational Status, Delayed Reporting, and Multiple Allegations. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(13-14), 7964-7989. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605231153873

Pica, E., Hildenbrand, A., Fraser, L., & Pozzulo, J. (2023). Juror decision-making in a child trafficking case: The impact of defendant and victim gender, defendant age, and defendant status. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38, 10031-10054. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605231169760

Sheahan, C. L., Pica, E., Thompson, L.E., Vettese, A., & Pozzulo, J. (2023). The influence of Indigenous identity and gender in perceptions of behaviour in response to racialized police communication. Race and Social Problems, 15, 246-261.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-022-09363-6

Sheahan, C. L., Fraser, B. M, Pica, E., & Pozzulo, J.D (2023). The influence of testimonial aids, age, and familiarity on mock-juror decision-making in a sexual offence case. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 38, 299-308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-021-09432-3

Thompson, L. E., Pozzulo, J., Fraser, B. M., Sheahan, C. L., Mackovichova, S., & Pratt, K. J. (2023). The impact of procedure and filler similarity on adolescent eyewitness lineup performance. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 38, 437-451.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-022-09531-9

Ross, D.F, Pica, E., Pozzulo, J., Clark, M., Swanson, S., Warren, A., Metzger, R., Silver, C., & Sinclair, H. (2023). The impact of disguise on identification of familiar faces. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology 38, 483–492. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-022-09552-4

Knowledge Mobilization:

Pozzulo, J. (2025, Nov. 1). Have you Read: Books for Well-Being and Personal Development. Bookmarks Magazine (pp. 8, 26). https://lsc-pagepro.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=853661&p=10&view=issueViewer

Pozzulo J. (2025, Oct. 24). Reading for well-being. HealCanada (pp. 35-36). https://www.healcanada.org/heal-canada-digital-magazine/

Pozzulo J. (2025, Aug. 5). Back-to-school transitions can trigger stress and anxiety – these 5 books can help. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/back-to-school-transitions-can-trigger-stress-and-anxiety-these-5-books-can-help-261042

Pozzulo J. (2025, June 25). Reading for well-being, HealCanada (pp. 35-36).

https://www.healcanada.org/heal-canada-digital-magazine/

Pozzulo J. (2025, May 14). Looking for mental health or wellness advice in a book? Check the author’s credentials first. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/looking-for-mental-health-or-wellness-advice-in-a-book-check-the-authors-credentials-first-256082

Pozzulo J. (2025, April 21). Reading for well-being, HealCanada (pp. 33-34). https://www.healcanada.org/heal-canada-digital-magazine/

Pozzulo J. (2025, April 6). 5 tips from an expert for choosing a self-help book that will actually work. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/5-tips-from-an-expert-for-choosing-a-self-help-book-that-will-actually-work-252596

Pozzulo, J. (2025, March 10). Reading for well-being. UBC Brain Wellness newsletter. https://www.bcbrainwellness.ca/blog/reading-for-well-being

Pozzulo, J. (2025, March 8). Books we’re reading and loving in March: The Positive Shift. The

Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books/article-best-books-march-2025/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Books&utm_content=2025-3-8_8&utm_term=Books%20we’re%20reading%20and%20loving%20in%20March:%20The%20Positive%20Shift%20offers%20strategies%20for%20happiness&utm_campaign=newsletter&cu_id=Qpv8827LSuPrKFVEUq8%2FIvU3FqyCB7NA

Pozzulo J. (2025, Feb. 27). Reading for well-being, HealCanada (pp. 39-40). https://issuu.com/healcanada/docs/e3_advocacy_2025_issue_7

Pozzulo, J. (2024, Aug. 1). Rape myths can affect jurors’ perceptions of sexual assault, and that needs to change. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/rape-myths-can-affect-jurors-perceptions-of-sexual-assault-and-that-needs-to-change-235175

Pozzulo J. (2024, June 20). Summer reading: 4 books on well-being that you can rely on. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/summer-reading-4-books-on-well-being-that-you-can-rely-on-229863

Pozzulo, J. (2024, Feb. 12). The use of technology in policing should be regulated to protect people from wrongful convictions, The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-use-of-technology-in-policing-should-be-regulated-to-protect-people-from-wrongful-convictions-223130

Pozzulo, J. (2024). It’s number 5: I’ll never forget that face! Psychology Review, 29, 9-11.

Pozzulo, J. (2024, Feb. 1). In high-profile sexual assault trials, rape myths and the social status of the defendants can affect jurors’ perceptions. The Conversation.  https://theconversation.com/in-high-profile-sexual-assault-trials-rape-myths-and-the-social-status-of-the-defendants-can-affect-jurors-perceptions-222250