NCJ Number
80982
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 5 Issue: 2/3 Dated: special issue (1981) Pages: 187-200
Date Published
1981
Length
14 pages
Annotation
An English study of juror bias in a rape case and a theft case found that the more people claimed to believe in the jury system, the more they were likely to convict and to stick to that decision after deliberation.
Abstract
Two trials were constructed by tape recording verbatim court records. Subjects were recruited to listen to the trials and reach a verdict after deliberation. They were chosen to be representative of the adult population of Greater London, England. Few variables correlated with the verdict, either before or aftr the verdict. In general, there was a slight tendency for younger (up to age 25) and older (above age 40) jurors to prefer to acquit. Jurors were most concerned with considering the evidence. How they do this may be influenced by their personalities, attitudes, and backgrounds, but their final decisions are not. Tables, footnotes, and 24 references are supplied. (Author abstract modified)