What is juror decision making?
What is juror decision making?
Much of the research on juror decision making is concerned with whether jurors are swayed by irrelevant-or extralegal-issues in their judgments of defendants. The present study uses data gathered from actual jurors to assess whether the emphasis on juror competence is justified.
Why is jury decision making important?
Because the jury system lies at the heart of our judicial system, understanding factors affecting the decisions they make and the processes by which these decisions are made is of paramount importance in operating a fair justice system.
What are 2 things a juror should never do?
(1) Tell the person it is improper for a juror to discuss the case or receive any information except in the courtroom. (2) Refuse to listen if the outsider persists. (3) Report the incident at once to the judge. Jurors have the duty to report to the judge any improper behavior by any juror.
How does the size of the jury relate to juror decision making?
A meta-analysis of studies specifically of juries (both simulated and actual) found that larger juries are more likely than smaller juries to contain members of minority groups, deliberate longer, hang more often, and recall trial testimony more accurately.
How does attractiveness influence jury decision making?
Some of the attractiveness research suggests that defendants of high attractiveness are at an advantage when it comes to sentencing. On the other hand, attractive defendants may be at a disadvantage if the jury feels they used their good looks to aid them in their crime or trial.
Do jurors make good decisions?
In most instances, the verdict in a criminal case must be unanimous. In some states a less than unanimous decision is permitted in civil cases. All federal cases require a unanimous decision. If the jurors cannot agree on a verdict, a hung jury results, leading to a mistrial.
Can jurors get in trouble?
It is a criminal offence for a juror to make any inquiry during the course of a trial for the purpose of obtaining information about the accused or any matters relevant to the trial. The offence is punishable by a maximum of 2 years imprisonment.
Do jurors speak in court?
Admonishment: If you are selected as a sworn juror in a particular case, the judge will admonish you not to speak with any other juror or other person about any subjects connected with the case until the case is submitted for deliberation.
What determines jury size?
States. Each state may determine the extent to which the use of a jury is used. The use of a jury in criminal trials is generally by a unanimous verdict of 12 lay members of the public. Some States provide exceptions such as majority (11-to-1 or 10-to-2) verdicts where a jury cannot otherwise reach a verdict.
Does the size of the jury matter?
A later statistical digest of all empirical studies of jury size concluded that larger juries are more likely than smaller juries to contain members of minority groups, more accurately recall trial testimony, spend more time deliberating, hang more often, and reach fewer erroneous decisions.
Do attractive people get less jail time?
A meta-analysis by Mazzella and Feingold (1994) found that “physical and characterological attractiveness” had an effect on punishment depending on the type of crime. An attractive person who committed a theft or rape received a less harsh sentence where as there was no impact on fraud.
Does being attractive help you in court?
According to a Cornell University study by Justin J. Gunnell and Stephen J. Ceci, more attractive defendants are less likely to be found guilty than less attractive ones. In addition, if there are monetary damages involved, then more attractive plaintiffs tend to receive higher rewards.