AMST 3822 Chapter 13: AMST Capital Jury Project Readings
Document Summary
Interviews with jurors who served in sc capital cases indicate that this nightmare of sentencing a defendant to die because of jury misinformation is a reality. Initial responsibility for instructing jurors rests with trial judges. The data analysis should inform trial judges about the real impact of the instructions that they choose to give and not give. Not constitutionally mandated, but should be provided in the sound exercise of their discretion. Data analyzed here were gathered as part of the capital jury project, a national science foundation-funded multistate research effort. Intended to fill major gap in knowledge of death penalty decision making. Should begin to inform policymakers and courts about how actual jurors decide between life and death. Murder under aggravating circumstances allows the jury to sentence defendant to death but not required to do so. If jury doesn"t unanimously find presence of an aggravating circumstance, the sentence is automatically life imprisonment.
