NCJ Number
181468
Date Published
1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This study of jury excusal and deferral in England and Wales examined why some of those summoned failed to do jury service during June and July 1999; data on the numbers and disabilities of disabled people excused from jury service were also collected to help in reviewing whether it would be possible for people who need third-party support in the jury room to serve on juries.
Abstract
Approximately 50,000 of those summoned for jury service were included in the sample; one-third of these were available for jury service, half of whom were given deferral to a later date. Of the remaining two-thirds, 13 percent were ineligible, disqualified, or excused as of right; 15 percent either failed to attend on the day or had their summonses returned as "undelivered"; and 38 percent were excused. The most common reasons for granting excusal were medical (40 percent of all excusals) and care of young children or the elderly (20 percent of all excusals). Three-quarters of all deferrals were given for either work (39 percent) or holidays (35 percent). A total of 315 people known to be disabled were excused during the 6 weeks of the study. One-third were deaf; one-fifth were in wheelchairs or had severe mobility problems; and 6 percent were blind. All matters involving the summoning of jurors are expected to be centralized in London during 2000 for the whole of England and Wales. Jurors will be selected at random from electoral rolls; summonses will be issued and jurors' responses (including applications for deferral and excusal) will be handled in London. This centralization should eliminate differences in the management of jurors by courts, such as ways of dealing with reluctant jurors. 1 table, 2 figures, and 1 reference