IMPACT OF AN AGGRESSIVE JUROR IN SIX- AND TWELVE-MEMBER JURIES

• NCJ Number: 37123
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1976) Pages: 255-262
• Author(s): J R SNORTUM; J S KLEIN; W A SHERMAN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: American Assoc of Correctional Psychologists
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY ASSESSED THE EFFECTS OF DELIBERATION BY 6-MEMBER AND 12-MEMBER JURIES ON JURIDIC OUTCOMES, AND THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF LARGE AND SMALL JURIES TO PERSUASIVE INFLUENCE BY AN ASSERTIVE MEMBER.

Abstract

THE STUDY ALSO EXAMINED THE EFFECTS OF PRESENT ATTITUDES AND PAST INFRACTIONS UPON JUROR JUDGMENTS. ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WERE RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO FIVE JURIES OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES: 6 MEMBERS, 12 MEMBERS, 5 MEMBERS PLUS CONFEDERATE, OR 11 MEMBERS PLUS CONFEDERATE. THE CONFEDERATE WAS TRAINED TO ARGUE FORCEFULLY FOR THE GUILT OF THE DEFENDANT IN A FICTIONAL CASE INVOLVING A FELLOW STUDENT. THE 6- AND 12-MEMBER JURIES DID NOT DIFFER IN THE PROPORTION OF GUILTY VERDICTS ASSIGNED. THE 5-MEMBER AND 11-MEMBER JURIES BOTH YIELDED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ASSERTIVE CONFEDERATE; HOWEVER, THE EFFECT WAS MORE PRONOUNCED IN THE SMALLER JURY. WHILE THERE ARE SEVERAL LIMITATIONS OF THIS EXPERIMENT AS AN ANALOGUE FOR ACTUAL JURIES, THE AUTHORS STATE THAT THE PRESENT RESULTS SUGGEST THAT THERE MAY BE SERIOUS RISKS IN REDUCING JURY SIZE BELOW THE TRADITIONAL PANEL OF 12. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)