Chapter 6
Petit Jury: Trial jury.
Venire: People who are potential jurors in a given jurisdiction.
Affirmative Registration: Action on part of women to actively seek to be included on juries.
Voir Dire: (To See, To Speak) The process where jurors are questioned to determine their bias
or prejudices. Not selecting those who do sit on jury but eliminating those who are unsuitable.
Jury Sequestration: Isolate jurors from biasing influences of the press and community. To
make sure their verdict was from the evidence and info presented at trial. Also it encourages
bonding which might have a positive effect on deliberations.
-Many things affect a juror’s decision, Gender, occupation, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.
Jury Nullification: refusal of the jury to apply law where they believe following the letter of the
law wouldn’t be justice.
-Jury absolute authority to acquit the defendant regardless of evidence.
Jury Misconduct:
1. Engaging in Delinquency or lying to avoid service.
2. Engaging in improper or prohibited behavior as a jury.
Chapter 9
Jury Deliberations: Decision-making process of arriving at particular verdicts.
Alternate Jurors: are used if one or more jurors become ill during proceedings.
-In federal district courts juries consist of 12 persons.
-State juries can vary in size from 6-12, the min is 6.
-if there are 6 must be unanimous, but if 12 majority will be fine, unless required under
state law.
-Death penalty must be unanimous.
Polling Jurors: Simply asking the jurors in open court if the verdict expresses their feelings.
Chapter 10
-Sentencing offenders serves the following functions:
-Punishment/just deserts -Incapacitation/crime control
-Rehabilitation -Reintegration (Probation)
-Prevention/deterrence
-Types of sentencing schemes
Indeterminate
Determinate Assign a max and min, buildup of Good-time Credit
Presumptive/Guidelines-based Punish for each crime, according to severity and crime history
Mandatory Must assign a specified period of years for certain offences.
Good-Time Credit: A fixed number of days inmates may accumulate based upon the amount of
time they serve that is deducted from sentence.
In MI it is mandatory penalty of 2 yrs for using a gun during the com ssion of a felony.
-This is to discourage criminals from using weapons when they commit crimes.
