Exploring Juror Stress in One-Day/One-Trial Jurisdictions
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Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor. Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with with permission permission of the of copyright the copyright owner. owner.Further reproductionFurther reproduction prohibited without prohibited permission. without permission. EXPLORING JUROR STRESS IN ONE-DAY/ONE-TRIAL JURISDICTIONS by Steven G. Michkowski submitted to the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of American.University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology: Justice Chair: Jurg K. Siegentnaler^ ✓->Siegen'tnaler line S. Cooper phfA. Trotter Jr. Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Date 2002 American University Washington, D.C. 20016 MMBHI WWBrn Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number 3048285 Copyright 2002 by Michkowski, Steven G. All rights reserved. ____ _______ (f t UMI UMI Microform 3048285 Copyright 2002 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. © COPYRIGHT by STEVEN G. MICHKOWSKI 2002 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. DEDICATION In memory of my father who taught me that the virtues of hard work and determination will always lead to appropriate award; to my Uncle Jack who provided me with endless lessons in self-confidence; to my Aunt Ginny who has been more like a mother to me and has supported me spiritually and mentally throughout my life; to my Uncle Bill who early on has encouraged me to seek knowledge and independence; and to my brothers Scott, John, and Paul who have helped to keep the dream of completing this dissertation alive. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. EXPLORING JUROR STRESS IN ONE-DAY/ONE-TRIAL JURISDICTIONS BY Steven G. Michkowski ABSTRACT The groundwork for this study is based on an examination of juror stress that was performed by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) entitled, "Through the Eyes of the Juror: A Manual for Addressing Juror Stress.” The major objective of the NCSC analysis was to identify sources of juror stress. The purpose of my thesis is to build upon the research performed by the NCSC. Specifically, this study distills the scope of data analysis to determine whether, overall, juror stress (as measured by combining the variables demonstrating the major relationships between jury service and stress) is less prevalent with jurors serving in one-day/one-trial jurisdictions contrasted with jurors who served in non-one-day/one-day-trial jurisdictions. In testing the outcome of this hypothesis, the study will also incorporate demographic characteristics with the intent to explore further what juror stress profiles can be formulated. In constructing models (groups) of key jury stress factors, I have further refined an understanding of the concept of juror ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. iit stress, especially as it would help to identify juror stress profiles that can be understood within the broader scope of the one*day/one-trial question. By enriching our understanding of the concept of juror stress as potentially related to certainty of service (one-day/one-trial), it is my expectation that an important and relevant breadth of knowledge can be injected to the field of justice administration. The prospective implications of this study will be of considerable interest and importance to judicial policymakers and especially to those jurisdictions that are weighing the benefits and ramifications of the one-day/one-trial concept. In identifying supplementary relationships between stress and jury service, it is logical to anticipate that this study would stimulate judicial policymakers to explore reasonable techniques aimed at reducing stress of jurors in those areas the courts effectively direct or manage. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many individuals have helped me throughout the process of my completion of this work. I would like to thank Fred Russillo and Tom Munsterman for their role as informal advisors, and to each of my committee members: Professors Jurg Siegenthaler, Caroline Cooper, and Joseph Trotter, who have devoted their time and endless hours of support. I would also like to thank Professor Bette Dickerson for her patience and heartfelt and meaningful words of wisdom and Chuck Rainville for his guidance on methodology. iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT....................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................ vii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS...................................................................................... ix CHAPTER I. IMPORTANCE OF THE RESEARCH.............................................................. 1 II. RESEARCH DESIGN.......................................................................................10 Study Design............................................................................................10 Research Question ................................................................................... 11 Service Stress Model .....................................................................14 Process Stress Model .....................................................................14 Design and Methodology......................................................................... 16 Distribution of Responses.......................................................................20 Sample....................................................................................................24 Instruments.............................................................................................25 Grouping of D ata.................................................................................... 28 Coding of Data........................................................................................30 Sampling Error........................................................................................30 Survey Instrumentation.......................................................................... 34 Independent T-Test Analysis.................................................................. 37 Tests of Statistical Significance ............................................................. 39 Interpretation of Significant Independent Variables.............................46 III. LITERATURE REVIEW...................................................................................48 The Importance of Juror Stress and Court Reform Research . 48 The Jury and Social Justice......................................................... 82 v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Historical Development of the Jury.............................................. 89 IV. FINDINGS/INTERPRETATION OF THE DATA...............................................101 Overview.....................................................................................101 Model T es t.................................................................................. 105 Coefficient Table Findings (SERVICE MODEL) ............................ 109 Coefficient Table Findings (PROCESS MODEL) ...........................113 V. FINDINGS/ANALYSIS OF THE DATA........................................................... 122 Overview...................................................................................