MARICOPA COUNTY (AZ) - THE JURY UTILIZATION AND MANAGEMENT DEMONSTRATION PROJECT - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• NCJ Number: 57280
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-NI-09-0002
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Maricopa Cty Government
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ASSESSMENT, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND CURRENT STATUS OF ACTIONS ON RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING JURY UTILIZATION IN MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA, ARE PRESENTED IN SUMMARY FORM.

Abstract

AREAS OF JURY UTILIZATION ASSESSED WERE SOURCE LISTS FOR JUROR SELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND SUMMONING, JURY PANEL UTILIZATION, JUROR UTILIZATION IN THE SUPERIOR COURT AND IN THE PHOENIX MUNICIPAL COURT, VOIR DIRE SCHEDULING, VOIR DIRE INFORMATION, MULTIPLE VOIR DIRE PROCESS, COURT AND PANEL WAITS, JUROR NOTIFICATION, JURORS' LOSS OF INCOME, JUROR COMFORTS, JUROR PARKING, JUROR INFORMATION, JUROR TERM OF SERVICE, PAPERWORK, COSTS, JURY SYSTEM PLAN, ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. THE ASSESSMENT GIVEN IN EACH OF THESE AREAS IS SUMMARIZED, AND ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE STATED, FOLLOWED BY A REPORT ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF ACTION ON THE RECOMMENDATION. THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED FROM APRIL, 1977 THROUGH SEPTEMBER, 1978. REGARDING SOURCE LISTS FOR JUROR SELECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COUNTY POPULATION, AGE 18 AND OVER. AFTER EXAMINING OTHER LISTS, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BEST REPRESENTATION COULD BE ACHIEVED BY SUPPLEMENTING THE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST WITH THE DRIVER'S LICENSE LISTS. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PROCESS OF SUMMONING QUALIFIED JURORS DUPLICATED EFFORT AND COST BY AN ADDITIONAL $11,000 PER YEAR. COMBINING QUALIFICATION AND SUMMONING INTO A ONE-STEP, MONTHLY PROCESS, THEREBY INCREASING EFFICIENCY AND THE YIELD OF THOSE JURORS AVAILABLE TO SERVE WAS RECOMMENDED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT, ON THE AVERAGE, ONLY 65 PERCENT OF THE JURY PANELS REQUESTED ARE USED. IN ADDITION TO ISSUING BIMONTHLY UTILIZATION REPORTS, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT SECRETARIES NOTIFY ALL PARTIES CONCERNED THE DAY BEFORE ORDERING THE PANEL, ASSESS JURY FEES IF A TRIAL IS CANCELED AFTER 2:00 P.M. OF THE PREVIOUS DAY, AND REQUEST AN OVERFLOW PANEL IF THERE IS UNCERTAINTY ABOUT A TRIAL START. WEAKNESSES WERE FOUND IN MOST OF THE OTHER AREAS OF INVESTIGATION, AND REMEDIES ARE SUGGESTED. (RCB)