NCJ Number
86424
Date Published
1981
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This report presents the standards for the 12 elements of the Florida Juror Utilization and Management Incentive Program (JUM) and the current level of achievement for each element.
Abstract
The twelve elements of the JUM program are the jury system plan; the source list; qualification and summoning; exemptions, excuses, and postponements; orientation; term of service; juror utilization; standard panel sizes; calendar coordination; standby jurors; voir dire; and monitoring and control. The standards for the jury system plan are to develop a jury system plan for all counties that will include a written description detailing the responsibilities for managing the system, the operating steps, and the court policies as well as a review of the plans by the State Planning Agency. The standard for the source list is to have an eligible population coverage of not less than 85 percent. For qualification/summoning, the standards are one-step summoning, the use of first-class mail, and a total yield of not less than 40 percent. Standards for exemptions, excuses, and postponements are (1) no class exemptions, (2) excuses granted for hardship only, (3) a written excuse policy, (4) postponements allowed, and (5) exclusions handled by mail or phone prior to reporting. Juror orientation is required on the first day of attendance. The standard for term of service is one-day/one-trial. Juror use requires voir dire attendance of 100 percent, trial attendance of not less than 50 percent, and an overcall of less than 20 percent. In terms of panel sizes, the number of jurors not reached during voir dire should be less than or equal to 10 percent of the standard panel size, and panel calls per days should be not less than three. Standards for standby panels include the development of standby call-in procedures, and standards for voir dire include consideration of multiple voir dire and single-day empanelment. Standards for monitoring and control set the juror day per trial for 6-member and 12-member juries as well as the number of people brought in. Definitions are provided for the terms used in each element.