Mental health professionals have long wondered about the impact of jury duty on one’s mental health. An article published in Medical News Today, March 23, 2009, “Report Warns Of Jury Service 'Trauma' ” examines this issue. The article reports on a study published recently in the Howard Journal. The researchers studied jurors in British and the effect of jury duty on their mental health. The results of the study were concerning. “….jury service can be a significant stressor for a vulnerable minority…. The times during trials when jurors were required to make decisions were cited as the most stressful, but having to deal with evidence that might be horrific was also a source of concern, particularly for women, who were also more adversely affected by dissension and questioning in the jury room.” There are several important implications of this study. First, there should be more and better preparation of prospective jurors before they begin their jury duty. Second, prospective jurors should be screened for the presence of current mental distress that would disqualify them from jury duty. Third, after the experience, jurors should be offered debriefing counseling services if requested.
The Bottom Line: The results of this study suggest that for certain individuals jury duty may be hazardous to their mental health.
Reference: The original article
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