NCJ Number
60415
Date Published
Unknown
Length
41 pages
Annotation
EIGHT ELEMENTS OF JURY UTILIZATION AND MANAGEMENT WERE USED TO IMPROVE THE JURY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN SPOKANE COUNTY, WASH.
Abstract
ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES WERE USED TO IMPROVE THE JURY OPERATION AND TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS WERE STUDIED: (1) JURY SELECTION METHODS; (2) RESPONSIVENESS TO COURT NEEDS; (3) JURY SERVICE METHODS, BY WHICH THE COURT MANAGES AND PROCESSES JURORS DURING THEIR TERM; (4) RANDOMNESS, TO PRODUCE A FAIR CROSS SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE DIFFICULTY OF HAVING SOME SERVE MORE FREQUENTLY THAN OTHERS; (5) COST AND CONDITIONS, SUCH AS TERM OF SERVICE, PARTICULARLY THE IMPACT THIS HAS ON THE WILLINGNESS OF PERSONS TO SERVE; (6) CITIZEN AWARENESS, I.E. THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE AVERAGE CITIZEN ABOUT JURY SERVICE; (7) PAPERWORK TO PROCESS JURORS THROUGHOUT THE TERM; AND (8) A JURY SYSTEM PLAN TO ENCOMPASS THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS TO 'PROVIDE NECESSARY AUTHORITY AND INFORMATION TO COURT PERSONNEL FOR AN ORDERLY AND INTEGRATED SYSTEM.' FOR EACH OF THE EIGHT ELEMENTS, DETAILS OF THE STUDY PLAN ARE GIVEN, ALONG WITH TOPICS AND METHOD OF STUDY, STUDY RESULTS, AND THE CHANGES WITH THEIR APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION. APPENDIX A DETAILS THE JURY MANAGEMENT COMPUTER SYSTEM. APPENDIX B DESCRIBES THE JURY SYSTEM PLAN. (RFC)