IDAHO - JUROR USAGE AND MANAGEMENT GRANT - FINAL EVALUATION REPORT

• NCJ Number: 58308
• Author(s): R L MARSH
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 34 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-NI-10-0004
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A PROJECT IN IDAHO, PART OF A FEDERAL EFFORT BY THE LEAA TO MODERNIZE THE JUROR SELECTION AND UTILIZATION PROCESS, IS EVALUATED.

Abstract

IN IDAHO, THE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE JUROR UTILIZATION IN SIX BROAD AREAS: (1) INCREASED DEFENSIBILITY OF JUROR SELECTION METHODS; (2) INCREASED CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN JURY SERVICE AND THE WORK OF COURTS, WITH RESULTING IMPROVEMENT IN CITIZEN ATTITUDES TOWARD THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; (3) IMPROVED RESPONSIVENESS OF THE JURY SYSTEM TO COURT NEEDS; (4) REDUCED ECONOMIC BURDEN ON INDIVIDUALS CALLED TO SERVE AS JURORS; (5) DECREASED COURT AND COMMUNITY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE JURY SYSTEM; AND (6) DEVELOPMENT OF A SYSTEM TO SERVE BOTH METROPOLITAN AND RURAL AREAS. THE EVALUATION DESIGN ENCOMPASSED SUCH BASIC ELEMENTS AS SELECTION METHODS, RESPONSIVENSS TO COURT NEEDS, JURY SERVICE METHODS, COSTS AND CONDITIONS, CITIZEN AWARENESS, STATUTES, AND A JURY SYSTEM PLAN. EVALUATION WAS BASED ON A TIME SERIES MODEL, A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN. OVERALL, THE IMPROVED JURY SYSTEM MET OR EXCEEDED PROJECT GOALS. PERFORMANCE OF IDAHO'S JURY SYSTEM BEFORE AND AFTER THE INSTITUTION OF IMPROVED PROCEDURES AND STATUTORY CHANGES TO ENHANCE THE JUROR UTILIZATION PROCESS ARE COMPARED. DATA AND ILLUSTRATIONS PERTINENT TO THE PROJECT ARE APPENDED. (DEP)