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Technical Assistance Reports
The NCSC Center for Jury Studies is available to provide technical assistance to state and local courts on issues related to jury system management.  The reports posted here offer examples of the types of analyses on problems commonly encountered in contemporary jury management systems. 
               
Minority Representations in the Michigan Third Judicial Circuit Minority Representation in the Michigan Third Judicial Circuit (Wayne County) Jury Pool
In this technical assistance report, Paula Hannaford-Agor and G. Thomas Munsterman assessed the summoning and qualification procedures used by the Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan (Wayne County) to identify procedural and operational factors that contribute to the disparity in minority populations in its jury pool and to make recommendations to improve the representation of those minorities.		   Juror Summoning to Multiple Court Locations Juror Summoning to Multiple Court Locations
In 2002, the Maricopa County (AZ) Superior Court developed a system to randomly summons jurors to multiple locations throughout the county while minimizing the likelihood that jurors will be assigned to courthouse far from their residences. In response to a challenge to this system, Paula Hannaford-Agor and G. Thomas Munsterman reviewed the system to determine its effect on random selection and on the demographics of the jury pools in each court location.		   Jury Yield in Baltimore City, MD Jury Yield in Baltimore City, Maryland
In 2005, the Circuit Court for the Baltimore City, Maryland requested the NCSC to examine its juror summonsing and qualification operations to identify factors contributing to its low jury yield (13%). G. Thomas Munsterman conducted the assessment and determined that the juror non-response and failure-to-appear rates were a major contribution to the court's low jury yields.
               
Juror Utilization Juror Utilization in the York County Court of Common Pleas
In response to concerns that its jury management practices make inefficient use of jurors, the York County Court of Common Pleas requested the NCSC to assess its jury management and utilization practices and make recommendations for improvement.		            
               
Study of Hung Juries
With funding from the National Institute of Justice, the NCSC examined the frequency and causes of juror deadlock. The study examined survey responses of judges, lawyers, and jurors from nearly 400 felony jury trials in Los Angeles, the Bronx, Phoenix, and DC.
               
Are Hung Juries a Problem? Are Hung Juries a Problem?
  Caseload Highlights Caseload Highlights V9 N1 - Profiles of Hung Juries   Nullification at Work? Nullification at Work? A Glimpse from the National Center for State Courts Study of Hung Juries.
               
Why Do Juries Hang? Why Do Juries Hang?   The Hung Jury The Hung Jury: The American Jury's Insights and Contemporary Understanding   Judge-Jury Judge-Jury Agreement in Criminal Cases: A Partial Replication of Kalven & Zeisel's The American Jury
               
Juror First Votes in Criminal Cases Juror First Votes in Criminal Cases   Jury of One Thumbnail Jury of One      
               
Juror Discussions
With funding from the State Justice Institute, the NCSC Center for Jury Studies undertook an evaluation of the Arizona rule permitting jurors in civil trials to discuss the evidence before final deliberations. The study surveyed judge, lawyer, litigant, and juror reactions to the reform in nearly 200 civil trials in the Maricopa, Pima, Mohave and Yavapai Counties.
               
Arizona Jury Reform The Arizona Jury Reform Permitting Civil Jury Trial Discussions: The Views of Trial Participants, Judges, and Jurors
   Permitting Jury Discussions Permitting Jury Discussions During Trial: Impact of the Arizona Reform   The Timing of Opinion The Timing of Opinion Formation by Jurors in Civil Cases: An Empirical Examination
               
Speaking Rights Speaking Rights’: An Evaluation of Arizona’s Rule Permitting Juror Discussions            
               
Juror Privacy
In a white paper and in a subsequent article published by Judicature in 2001, Paula L. Hannaford proposes a conceptual framework for courts to consider in reviewing policies and procedures on juror privacy.
               
Juror Privacy Safeguarding Juror Privacy   Making the Case for Juror Privacy Making the Case for Juror Privacy: A New Framework for Court Policies and Procedures      
               
Other Projects
               
Examining Voir Dire in CA Examining Voir Dire in California
Responding to a request by the California Administrative Office of the Courts, Paula Hannaford-Agor and Nicole Waters estimated the impact of proposed reductions in the number of peremptory challenges based on their current and anticipated usage by California attorneys. 		  Increasing the Jury Pool Increasing the Jury Pool: The Impact of the Employer Tax Credit
Impact of the Employer Tax Credit: In this technical assistance project, Paula Hannaford-Agor employed survey methods with nearly 35,000 jurors who reported for service in 34 counties in California during February-March 2003 to gauge the level of financial hardship experienced by jurors due to lost income and to estimate the likely fiscal costs of offering a state tax credit to employers who pay employees while on jury service. 		  Does Jury Size Matter? Does Jury Size Matter?
A Review of the Literature: Nicole L. Waters summarizes recent empirical literature on the effect of jury size on the reliability, validity, and predictability of jury verdicts and on the dynamics of jury deliberations.
               
Juror Comprehension of DNA Evidence Juror Comprehension of DNA Evidence
with funding by the National Institute of Justice, NCSC Judicial Fellow B. Michael Dann (ret.) and Professor Valerie P. Hans (Cornell Law School) examined the impact of four techniques to improve juror comprehension (notetaking, juror questions for witnesses, a jury checklist, and juror notebooks) on juror comprehension of complex scientific evidence. 		  Juror Stress Juror Stress
Through the Eyes of the Juror: A Manual for Addressing Juror Stress is a monograph published by the NCSC to help judges and court staff identify aspects of jury service that contribute to juror stress and respond with appropriate support and resources. The monograph is based on a NCSC study of juror stress that was funded by the State Justice Institute.		      
               
 
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