NCJ Number
15018
Editor(s)
G R WINTERS
Date Published
1971
Length
133 pages
Annotation
A COLLECTION OF SEVENTEEN READINGS WHICH INVESTIGATE THE VIRTUES AND DEFECTS OF THE JURY SYSTEM AND THE PROPOSALS BEING MADE TO IMPROVE THE JURY AND ITS OPERATION.
Abstract
THE VOLUME BEGINS WITH AN HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE JURY SYSTEM. THIS IS FOLLOWED BY ARGUEMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE RETENTION OF JURIES IN CIVIL CASES. TWO ARTICLES DISCUSS PROPOSALS FOR A REDUCTION IN THE SIZE OF THE JURY TO FIVE OR SIX, RATHER THAN ITS OUTRIGHT RETENTION OR REJECTION. A SERIES OF ARTICLES WHICH INVESTIGATE PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVING THE JURY WITHOUT CHANGING ITS FORM IS PRESENTED. THESE INCLUDE DISCUSSIONS OF WAYS TO MAKE THE JURY MORE REPRESENTATIVE, A STUDY WHICH SUBSTANTIATES THE BIAS IN PRESENT METHODS OF JURY SELECTION AND A DISCUSSION OF THE HISTORICAL EXCLUSION OF WOMEN FROM JURIES, A DISCUSSION OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ALLOWING SIMPLE MAJORITY VERDICTS, AND A LOOK AT PATTERN JURY INSTRUCTIONS AND THEIR POTENTIAL FOR INCREASING THE JURY'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE JURY AND THE WAYS IN WHICH PSYCHOLOGY CAN BE USED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND IMPROVE THE JURY SYSTEM ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. THE READINGS CONCLUDE WITH TWO ARTICLES BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED ON JURIES AND DISCUSS HOW THE JURY WORKS AND HOW IT CAN BE IMPROVED. FOLLOWING THE ARTICLES, THE UNIFORM JURY SELECTION AND SERVICE ACT IS APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)