NCJ Number
84632
Journal
Journal of Applied Behavioral Science Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: (1982) Pages: 29-47
Date Published
1982
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study examines the norms of jury selection, determines which norms are most important in qualifying individuals for jury service, and discusses how the interpretation and application of these norms influence the racial composition of juries as blacks progress from the jury list to the jury panel and to the jury box.
Abstract
The data come from a questionnaire survey of 1,551 legal personnel most directly associated with State petit trial juries in 325 counties of 8 Southern States with large black populations. The results indicate that blacks are significantly underrepresented at several jury selection stages. Some of the reasons for this underrepresentation are related to unsupervised and unauthorized discretionary jury selection procedures and the systematic striking of blacks. Study data, notes, and over 30 references are supplied. (Author abstract modified)