PSYC 395 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Jury Trial, Summary Offence, Voir
28 Nov 2018
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The cases heard by juries: summary offences, sentences of less than 6 months in prison and a fine of less than ,000, tried by judge alone, no right to have a trial by jury. Characteristics & responsibilities of juries in canada: representativeness: composition that represents the community where the crime occurred. Impartiality: a lack of bias on the part of the jurors. Issue in canada is that aboriginal people are under-represented on juries: raises the concern that aboriginals on trial might not get a jury who is also. Defendant and lawyers: positive information biased jurors positively toward the defendant (fewer guilty verdicts, negative information biased jurors negatively against the defendant (more guilty verdicts) Individual differences can influence this process, by bringing in personal experiences, beliefs, attitudes when constructing their stories: the story model seems to be consistent with how jurors process trial evidence and reach a verdict.
