Department for Constitutional Affairs - Publications - Jury Research and Impropriety Consultation

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A consultation by the Department for Constitutional Affairs

Jury Research and Impropriety

January 2005

[CP 04/05]

This consultation was published in January 2005, it invited comments on options for allowing research into jury deliberations and to consider investigations into alleged juror impropriety.

The consultation period closed on 15 April 2004

Consultation paper
Summary of responses
Contact details
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Consultation paper
In January 2005 we issued a consultation paper which invited comments on whether

Any or all aspects of the way in which jurors deliberate should be subject to research.
There are any circumstances in which a jury's deliberations should be subject to external investigation beyond the court, including after proceedings have been concluded
Any aspect of the common law rendering inadmissible any evidence from jury deliberations should be clarified or amended.

Options proposed were via amendment of section 8 of the contempt of court act 1981 and/or maintaining common law.

The consultation closed 15 April 2005.

Jury research and impropriety [PDF 472 kb]

Responses
This report summarises the responses received to the consultation 'jury research and impropriety', Most respondents were supportive of the idea of research into jury deliberations and the government supports more research within the confines of the current law before any amendments are made to statute. On the issue of juror impropriety the government wants to maintain the status quo and allow the common law to develop on a case by case basis, and the majority of consultees supported this approach.

Summary of responses [PDF 82k]

Contact details

Further copies of the consultation paper can be obtained by contacting the address below:

Victoria Stanger
Criminal Justice Delivery Unit
6th floor, Steel House
Tothill Street
LONDON
SW1H 9LH

Tel: 020 7210 2795
Fax: 020 7210 2782

Email: