Using Jurors to Explore Public Attitudes to Sentencing

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of an innovative method of ascertaining public opinion about sentencingnamely using jurors in actual cases to explore both the appropriateness of the sentence imposed in the juror's trial and more general views about sentencing levels. Contrasting images of public opinion emerged: a punitive public in relation to general perceptions of leniency and a more merciful public in relation to individual cases. The extent and reasons for this dichotomy are explored, as are differences in levels of satisfaction for different offence types.