Research Design
The Juries & Interactive Visual Evidence (JIVE) project measures the impact of interactive displays on the trial process; specifically how computer simulations and 360° crime scene reconstructions may better inform juries, but potentially increase prejudice against defendants.
There are 3 stages for the project. Stage one focuses on the development of the questionnaire; stage 2 is the individual level juror experiment and stage 3 is the final experiment in the NSW Supreme Court.
Stage One Research (survey of juror eligible persons)
The aim of stage one is to develop credible scenarios (2 of which will be used in stage two, and one of these will go on to stage three) and create a robust questionnaire to measure juror’s responses. Survey participants have been drawn from jury pools in Queensland and Victoria with the assistance of the relevant agencies in those states. Another component of stage one is to observe court presentations of interactive visual evidence, these observations commenced with a study of the Norfolk Island committal hearing in August this year and the use of panoscan evidence in trials in the ACT.
Stage Two Research (individual level juror experiment)
During stage two of the research juror eligible persons will be shown a short (approximately 25 minute) video of a mock trial. They will then complete the questionnaire which was developed in stage one. This experiment will run in June and July 2007. An outline for each video variation (6 in total – 3 versions of two scenarios) has been developed and work has begun on the scripts each video. Filming at the University of Canberra e-court was completed in early February 2007 and the Interactive Visual Evidence will be produced in March/April.
Stage Three Research (mock trials in the NSW courts)
In stage three 144 participant jurors in 12 juries will be involved in mock trials in a NSW Supreme Court facility. They will then deliberate, as a jury would normally, and return a verdict. When this process is complete the jurors will complete the survey that was developed in stage one. Only one scenario will be used for the final stage (either the homicide or terrorism scenario).