NCJ Number
31737
Date Published
1975
Length
67 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DESCRIBES RESEARCH CARRIED OUT IN DEVELOPING 'A GUIDE TO JURY SYSTEM MANAGEMENT' (NCJ-31751) AND IN EVALUATING THE USEFULNESS OF THE PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED 'A GUIDE TO JUROR USAGE' (NCJ-15215).
Abstract
THE RESEARCH INVOLVED THE COMPARISON OF CURRENT JURY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN MANY COURTS, INCLUDING FIVE PAIRS OF STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS WHICH DRAW JURORS FROM THE SAME AREAS. DATA RELATING TO THEIR JUROR SELECTION, NOTIFICATION, QUALIFICATION, PAYMENT, AND LENGTH OF SERVICE POLICIES WERE REVIEWED AND ANALYZED. THE UTILITY OF 'A GUIDE TO JUROR USAGE' WAS TESTED IN 18 COURTS OF VARIOUS SIZES, HALF OF WHICH RECEIVED ASSISTANCE IN IMPLEMENTING ITS GUIDELINES. RESULTS SHOW THAT USE OF THE GUIDE WAS EFFECTIVE IN THE COURTS, THAT ASSISTANCE IS BENEFICIAL, THAT SMALL COURTS ARE MORE DEPENDENT ON ASSISTANCE FOR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION, AND THAT THE MOST NECESSARY INGREDIENT IN IMPROVING JUROR UTILIZATION IS STRONG COURT MANAGEMENT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)