Twelve (not so) angry men: jurors work better in small groups

Abstract

Twelve-person juries are often regarded as one of the cornerstones of democracy. In the UK, the right to a trial by jury is considered an important feature of the criminal justice system. Indeed, it has been rated as more important than a number of other rights, including the right to protest against the government, the right not to be detained for an extended period without charge and the right to free speech in public (Roberts and Hough, 2009). The public also trusts juries comprising randomly selected ordinary people and relies on the contribution of 12 individuals to eliminate bias and prejudice from the decision making process.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lorraine Hope

Dr Lorraine Hope is a Reader in Applied Cognitive Psychology

Bridget Waller

Dr Bridget Waller is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth