NCJ Number
15215
Date Published
1974
Length
76 pages
Annotation
BASED ON AN ANALYSIS OF METHODS USED BY NUMEROUS COURTS, GENERAL RULES AND TECHNIQUES FOR EFFICIENT JUROR UTILIZATION ARE OFFERED FOR COURT AND JURY MANAGERS.
Abstract
MOST CRITICS OF THE JURY SYSTEM DO NOT REALIZE THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED IN MAKING EFFICIENT USE OF ALL JURORS WHO ARE CALLED FOR JURY DUTY. UNDER OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE, A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PARTIES AND THE JUDGE FROM WHICH AN UNBIASED JURY IS SELECTED TO HEAR A PARTICULAR CASE. THE SELECTION PROCESS, OR VOIR DIRE, GENERALLY LASTS ONLY A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE ACTUAL TRIAL, HOWEVER, MAY LAST FOR A DAY OR MORE. THE OPERATION IS ONE THAT REQUIRES MANY PEOPLE FOR A SHORT TIME AND A FEW FOR A LONG TIME. IN SEVERAL JURY SYSTEMS, THE 'MANY' MUST WAIT UNTIL THE 'FEW' HAVE FINISHED A TRIAL AND UNTIL ANOTHER SELECTION PROCESS BEGINS. THE GUIDE TO JUROR USAGE IS BASED ON AN ANALYSIS OF METHODS USED BY NUMEROUS STATE AND LOCAL COURTS IN IMPROVING JUROR UTILIZATION. GENERAL RULES FOR GOOD JUROR USAGE ARE OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION BY JUDGES, JURY CLERKS, COURT ADMINISTRATORS AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN CONSERVING JUROR TIME, SAVING JURY COSTS, AND IMPROVING THE MORALE OF CITIZENS WHO MUST SERVE. SUGGESTIONS INCLUDE BETTER CORRELATION BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF THOSE CALLED TO SERVE AND THE NUMBER OF JURORS ACTUALLY NEEDED, STAGGERED TRIAL STARTS, AND DISMISSAL OF JUROR WHENEVER POSSIBLE. SPECIFIC SECTIONS OF THE STUDY DESCRIBE METHODS FOR SELECTING THE PROPER JURY 'POOL' SIZE AND EXPLAIN HOW DATA CAN BE COLLECTED AND ANALYZED TO QUANTITATIVELY MEASURE AND IMPROVE PERFORMANCE. ALSO INCLUDED IS A GLOSSARY OF JURY-RELATED TERMS AND A CURRENT BIBLIOGRAPHY ON JURY UTILIZATION AND MANAGEMENT. (SNI ABSTRACT)