NCJ Number
62651
Date Published
1979
Length
27 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE PRESENTED OF A PUBLIC OPINION POLL CONDUCTED IN APRIL 1977 FOR THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION OF CANADA TO ASSESS THE PUBLIC'S VIEW ABOUT VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE CRIMINAL JURY SYSTEM.
Abstract
THE SAMPLING PROCEDURE PRODUCED AN APPROXIMATION OF THE ADULT CIVILIAN POPULATION, 18 YEARS AND OLDER, LIVING IN CANADA EXCEPT FOR THOSE PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS PRISONS OR HOSPITALS OR THOSE RESIDING IN LABRADOR, THE YUKON, OR THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES. SURVEY DATA CAN BE APPLIED TO THIS POPULATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROJECTING PERCENTAGES INTO NUMBERS OF PEOPLE. SURVEY RESULTS ARE BASED ON 1,014 DOOR-TO-DOOR INTERVIEWS. HOUSEHOLDS WERE SELECTED IN ADVANCE, BASED ON HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS, AND INDICATED ON THE INTERVIEWER'S MAP. QUESTIONS FOCUSED ON CRIMINAL JURY TRIAL PARTICIPATION OF RESPONDENTS, FAIRNESS OF JURY VERDICTS, AND RIGHTS OF ACCUSED PERSONS IN SELECTING JURY TRIAL. ONE-THIRD OF THE POPULATION HAS HAD DIRECT OR INDIRECT CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL JURY. THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED ON A JURY BELIEVE A JURY VERDICT IS FAIRER THAN VERDICT BY A JUDGE. GENERALLY, HALF THE POPULATION THINKS BOTH VERDICTS ARE EQUALLY FAIR AND JUST, BUT THE REMAINING HALF ARE OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF JURY VERDICTS. ALMOST ALL CANADIANS BELIEVE THAT THE ACCUSED SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF A JURY TRIAL AND ONE-THIRD THINK THE ACCUSED SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION FOR ALL OFFENSES. A GREAT MAJORITY FEEL THAT JURORS SHOULD COME TO A JUST AND FAIR VERDICT EVEN THOUGH IT MEANS THEY WOULD NOT BE STRICTLY APPLYING THE LAW. APPENDIXES AND STATISTICAL TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED IN THE STUDY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LWM)