NCJ Number
64417
Date Published
1980
Length
171 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON THE ROLE OF THE JURY IN AMERICAN SOCIETY, THE JURY IS VIEWED IN TERMS OF ITS HISTORY, ITS COMPONENTS AND FUNCTIONS, AND ITS USE IN LANDMARK TRIALS OF THE LAST FOUR DECADES.
Abstract
THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN JURY IS BRIEFLY TRACED, NOTING VIEWS OF THE JURY SYSTEM FROM SELECTIONS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE AND THEATER, FROM THE PRESS, AND FROM THE JUDICIARY. STUDIES ON THE INFLUENCE OF DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS ON JUROR SELECTION AND PERFORMANCE CONCENTRATE ON JURORS' SEX, OCCUPATION, EDUCATION, RACE, AND ETHNICITY AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE JURORS' VERDICTS. THE JUROR'S DECISIONMAKING PROCESS IS EXAMINED WITH ATTENTION TO SOCIAL DYNAMICS AND CONSENSUS REACHING, THE RATIONALITY OF JURY DELIBARATIONS, AND VERDICTS. THE VARIABLES OF GROUP SIZE AND SOCIAL DECISION RULE ARE STUDIED IN RELATION TO U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS REGARDING THESE VARIABLES. RESEARCH IS REPORTED THAT RELATES TO THE IMPACT OF PRETRIAL PUBLICITY ON THE JURY, THE INFLUENCE OF THE MASS MEDIA ON PUBLIC ATTITUDES AND OPINION, AND THE FAIR TRIAL AND FREE PRESS CONTROVERSY. FINALLY, JURIES' VERDICTS IN SOME OF THE MAJOR AND MOST CONTROVERSIAL TRIALS OF THE 1940'S, 1950'S, 1960'S, AND 1970'S ARE NOTED WITH REMARKS ON THE CHANGES IN DEFENDANTS, THE ACTS FOR WHICH THEY WERE CHARGED, AND THE IDEOLOGY AND POLITICAL SYMBOLISM SURROUNDING THE TRIALS. REFERENCES AND AN INDEX ARE SUPPLIED. (MHP)