NCJ Number
34696
Journal
Judicature Volume: 59 Issue: 10 Dated: (MAY 1976) Pages: 478-483
Date Published
1976
Length
6 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON A STUDY CONDUCTED IN FLORIDA TO DETERMINE IF A JURY CAN ADEQUATELY BE INFORMED OF POINTS OF LAW NEEDED TO RENDER A FAIR AND INTELLIGENT VERDICT THROUGH ORAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM A JUDGE.
Abstract
A TOTAL OF 116 JURY VENIREMEN VOLUNTEERED FOR THE PROJECT AND WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS, CONTROL AND EXPERIMENTAL. THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP RECEIVED A TWENTY-FIVE MINUTE VIDEOTAPED INSTRUCTION FOR A BURGLARY CASE FROM THE FLORIDA STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES. BOTH GROUPS WERE THEN GIVEN A FORTY-ITEM MULTIPLE CHOICE AND TRUE-FALSE COMPREHENSION TEST, THE CONTROL GROUP TAKING THE TEST WITHOUT BENEFIT OF INSTRUCTION. THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP SHOWED AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 60 TO 70 PERCENT IN COMPREHENSION AFTER INSTRUCTION. THE AREAS IN WHICH THEY SHOWED LITTLE GAIN IN COMPREHENSION WERE EXAMINED REVEALING THAT THE ATTITUDES AND UNDERSTANDING OF POTENTIAL JURORS TOWARDS CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE, STATEMENTS MADE BY THE ACCUSED, THE MEANINGS OF A NOT-GUILTY PLEA, AND NON-VERBAL WITNESS CUES DEMAND IMMEDIATE ATTENTION FROM BENCH AND BAR.