  Citizens' JuryBrief Description:Citizens' juries consist of a small panel of non-specialists, modelled on the structure of a criminal jury. The group set out to examine an issue of public significance in detail and deliver a "verdict".
Description:A Citizens' Jury provides an independent setting for members of the public to examine and discuss an important issue of public policy and to deliver a 'verdict' on the issue. It is deliberative in that the Jury gets information about the issues it is set to discuss. This information includes a variety of opinions on what could be done about the issue and is presented by 'witnesses' and is followed by question and answer sessions. Juries do not necessarily have to work towards agreement, but there is usually a movement towards some sort of shared opinion. In a four-day process, day one is spent bringing jurors up to speed on the issue; days two and three concentrate on witness presentations on the different ways of dealing with the issue; and most of the fourth day is spent by the Jury developing its recommendations. Please note that in the USA Citizens' Juries are are a trademark of the Jefferson Center. Used For:Citizens Juries are often used around current, often controversial, public policy issues where opinion is sharply divided and policy makers cannot decide what to do. The jury creates an informed public opinion about what they feel policy makers should do. Although originally designed for local communities to tackle issues of local concern, Juries are now starting to be used to look at national issues. Juries are decision-advising rather than decision-making tools. Suitable participants:Most Juries include a 'best fit' (demographic) sample of 12 to 16 members of the public. They are brought together to examine both written and verbal evidence about different perspectives on the issue they are deliberating on. Cost:A Citizens Jury usually costs between £20,000 and £40,000. The difference in the costing usually relates to how long the process is designed to last and the exact nature of the methodology. The original type of Jury introduced into the UK by IPPR and the Kings Fund tends to last for four days and involves much preparation time. This version would be at the higher end of the costing. Time Requirements:The set up time for a jury can be anywhere from two to four months.
When To Use / What It Can Deliver:You should use a citizens' jury when you have a 'live' contentious issue where the way forward has not been decided or where workable policy options have been developed by policy makers about how to respond to the issue in question Citizens' Juries can deliver decision-making that better reflects the public's views and a high profile example of public engagement. When Not To Use / What It Cannot Deliver:You should not use a citizens' jury when:
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Origin:Social Research The model used in the UK is a mixture of the US Citizens' Jury developed by the Jefferson Center, and the German Pannungszelle (planning cell) developed by the University of Wuppertal. Case Studies:
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Restrictions In UseCitizens Juries are a trade mark of teh Jefferson Center in the United Steas of America. There are no restrictions on the use of Citizens' Juries in the rest of the world. Further InformationUK Contact: Office for Public Management US Contact: http://www.jefferson-center.org |
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