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Study of the Juror Interaction Process in Criminal Trials

NCJ Number
70826
Author(s)
P E Dow
Date Published
1977
Length
174 pages
Annotation
A study focusing on juror interaction and the significance of individual juror characteristics such as sex, education, and occupation is presented; small group theory relative to jury behavior is highlighted.
Abstract
Data for the study were obtained from questionnaires mailed to jurors in the Onondaga County Criminal Court of Syracuse, New York. All criminal cases occurring between January 1972 and August 1973 were included in the sample, which consisted of 43 trials. Respondents totaled 194. The questionnaire provided 54 questions designed to elicit the type of behavior the jurors exhibited during deliberations. Questions concerning jurors' sex, age, religion, race, political party affiliation, marital status, and education were included; and information about juror occupation was obtained from the county court records. Computer programs and statistical tests and measurements were employed in questionnaire response analysis. Analysis revealed that on the average there was little or no difference in the frequency of interaction between males and females. The hypothesis that education is a correlate of influence attempts was substantiated by the data. The greatest difference in the frequency of influence attempts occurred between the most educated (college) and the least educated (grade school) jurors. Managers and proprietors were generally more influential than others. The data indicated that the more formal education a juror received the more likely he was to change his verdict. Occupation, however, was not a good indicator of verdict change. One significant aspect of the study is that the findings of small group theory, as identified in the preliminary literature review, are not completely generalizable to the jury group. The concept and ramifications of 'democratic theory' provide some insight into apparent discrepancies. Systematic research into specific areas of deliberative behavior are suggested for future research. Footnotes, tables, figures, a selected bibliography, and an appendix are included in the study.

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