SOCIALIZATION OF JURORS - THE VOIR DIRE AS A RITE OF PASSAGE

• NCJ Number: 41443
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1976) Pages: 271-283
• Author(s): R W BALCH; C T GRIFFITHS; E L HALL; L T WINFREE
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Pergamon Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE SOCIALIZATION OF JURORS, WHICH TAKES PLACE AS A LATENT FUNCTION OF THE VOIR DIRE, IS DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT CONSTITUTE THE PASSAGE FROM THE STATUS OF 'ORDINARY CITIZEN' TO A COURTROOM MEMBER.

Abstract

IN THIS PAPER THE AUTHORS ARGUE THAT JURORS EXPERIENCE A BRIEF BUT INTENSIVE PERIOD OF SOCIALIZATION EVEN BEFORE THE TRIAL BEGINS. MOST OF THIS SOCIALIZATION OCCURS DURING THE VOIR DIRE WHEN ATTORNEYS QUESTION PROSPECTIVE JURORS ABOUT THEIR BACKGROUNDS AND BIASES IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THEIR COMPETENCE TO RENDER A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL VERDICT. THE AUTHORS EXPLAIN THE NATURE OF THE SOCIALIZATION PROCESS, EMPHASIZING THOSE FEATURES OF THE COURTROOM SETTING AND THE INTERACTION THEREIN THAT FACILITATE ADOPTION OF THE JUROR'S ROLE. FINALLY, THE AUTHORS EXPLORE THE IMPLICATION OF THESE FINDINGS FOR OTHER STUDIES OF JURY SELECTION AND DECISION MAKING, AND EXAMINE IMPLICATIONS OF THE LACK OF THIS VOIR DIRE SOCIALIZATION ON MOCK JURY RESEARCH. FUTURE RESEARCH ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE JUROR ROLE AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE SOCIALIZATION DURING VOIR DIRE HELPS JURORS SET ASIDE THEIR NORMAL DECISIONMAKING RULES IS ALSO DISCUSSED.(AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC