NCJ Number
54298
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (1977) Pages: 81-86
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
AN ATTITUDE MEASURE GIVEN TO 103 PERSONS WHO HAD SERVED ON JURIES IN A SOUTHERN COMMUNITY FOUND THAT POLITICALLY CONSERVATIVE JURORS WERE BETTER EDUCATED AND RENDERED DECISIONS CLOSER TO THE LEGAL IDEAL.
Abstract
THIS STUDY, CONDUCTED IN 1972, USED THE EYSENCK-NAGEL LIBERALISM-CONSERVATISM SCALE TO MEASURE THE ATTITUDES OF PERSONS WHO HAD SERVED ON ACTUAL JURIES DURING JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF THAT YEAR. IT WAS FOUND THAT 59 PARTICIPANTS COULD BE CLASSIFIED AS CONSERVATIVE WHILE 44 TENDED TOWARD A SUBCLUSTER CATEGORY CALLED 'TRADITIONAL MORALITY.' THE CONSERVATIVE JURORS WERE BETTER EDUCATED, CAME FROM HIGHER SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS, WERE SOMEWHAT YOUNGER, WERE MORE LIKELY TO LIVE IN THE CITY, HAD MORE CONTACT WITH THE LEGAL SYSTEM, AND WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE NON-BAPTIST. THE DECISIONS RENDERED WERE THEN EXAMINED. THE MORE CONSERVATIVE GROUP ACTED MORE IN HARMONY WITH LEGAL IDEALS. THEY SAW JURY SERVICE AS A DUTY, THOUGHT THE VENIRE SHOULD BE A CROSS SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY, TENDED TO VOTE ON THE EVIDENCE, AND REACHED THEIR DECISIONS AFTER DELIBERATION. THEY VOTED MORE OFTEN FOR THE STATE OR FOR THE DEFENDANT IN CIVIL TRIALS. THE MORE LIBERAL GROUP LIKED TO SERVE ON JURIES, TENDED TO MAKE UP THEIR MINDS BEFORE DELIBERATION, FAVORED CERTAIN PARTIES IN VOTING, AND PERCEIVED THEMSELVES AS MAKING A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO VERDICT OUTCOME. THEY WERE TWICE AS LIKELY TO VOTE FOR THE ACCUSED OR THE PLAINTIFF IN CIVIL CASES. TABLES PRESENT STUDY DATA. THE DIFFERING MEANINGS OF THESE FINDINGS TO A LEGAL EXPERT AND A BEHAVIORIST ARE DISCUSSED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)