NCJ Number
64322
Date Published
1979
Length
71 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS ARE PRESENTED FROM A PROJECT IN FLORIDA WHICH FOCUSED ON THE IDENTIFICATION AND RESOLUTION OF JURY SYSTEM PROBLEMS THROUGH THE USE OF SELECTED TEST SITES AS EXPERIMENTAL ENTITIES.
Abstract
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY WERE TO MAXIMIZE THE RESPONSIVENESS OF THE JURY SYSTEM TO THE COURT'S NEEDS, AS WELL AS INCREASE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION. IN ADDITION, THE MODIFICATIONS IMPLEMENTED AS A RESULT OF STUDY EFFORTS WERE INTENDED TO MINIMIZE THE INCONVENIENCE OF JURY SERVICE, THE ECONOMIC BURDENS TO INDIVIDUALS, AND THE COST OF JURY SERVICE TO THE STATE. THE FUNDAMENTAL PROJECT METHODOLOGY WAS TO GATHER AND ANALYZE DATA ON PAST AND CURRENT PRACTICES IN SELECTED FLORIDA COURTS, IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT MEANS OF REDUCING PROBLEMS, MONITOR AND ANALYZE MODIFICATIONS TO JURY SYSTEMS, AND DISTRIBUTE THE RESULTS TO OTHER FLORIDA COURTS. SEVEN COUNTIES PARTICIPATED IN THE PROJECT. EACH OF THE MAJOR ACTIVITIES IN THE OPERATION OF A JURY SYSTEM WAS MONITORED IN THE PROJECT COURTS DURING THE STUDY PERIOD. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED THE SELECTION PROCESS, QUALIFYING AND SUMMONING PROCEDURES, JUROR USAGE, COMPENSATION, AND JUROR PERCEPTIONS OF SERVICE. THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT CONSIDERS THE STUDY TO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN IDENTIFYING AND TESTING VARIOUS METHODS OF IMPROVING JURY SYSTEM MANAGEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, THROUGH MONITORING TRIAL REQUIREMENTS, SEVERAL COURTS WERE ABLE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PERSONS COMING TO THE COURTHOUSE, THUS ELIMINATING OR REDUCING IDLE TIME SPENT BY JURORS. BY USING TELEPHONE CALL-IN DEVICES, HERNANDO, BROWARD, LAKE, AND MARION COUNTIES WERE ABLE TO PLACE SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF JURORS ON STAND BY STATUS AND NOTIFY THEM NOT TO REPORT. ONLY 7 PERCENT OF THE PERSONS SAMPLED IN THE STUDY HAD AN UNFAVORABLE IMPRESSION OF JURY SERVICE. BY FOLLOWING SUGGESTED RECOMMENDATIONS, FIVE STUDY PARTICIPANTS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE JUROR PER DIEM COST PER TRIAL. THE USE OF MULTIPLE VOIR DIRE WAS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF REDUCING COSTS. TABULAR DATA AND CHARTS ARE PROVIDED. APPENDIXES PRESENT SAMPLE FORMS, A JURY SERVICE EXIT QUESTIONNAIRES, TABLES, AND RELATED INFORMATION. (LWM)