Trauma and Jury Duty
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Now, the trauma that is experienced by jurors and the price some pay for their service is being recognized by at least one state, Texas. Legislation, which would provide counseling for jurors or alternates after trials that are particularly disturbing or horrific, is currently being considered. The idea came from one victim's mother who thought not of herself, but of the men and women who served on the jury that heard the murder case of her deceased daughter.
Some judges, in their wisdom, have elected to make mental health experts available for jurors in high-profile traumatic trials, but it hasn't become law in any state, as I know it.
Do jurors suffer trauma? I don't think there's any question about it, just as there's no question that being in a war zone, suffering through the aftermath of a natural disaster or seeing a murder results in trauma that can be long-lasting. We call the disorder PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) because it isn't apparent immediately and may take months or, in some case, longer for the symptoms to appear. But the connection between both experiencing a trauma and viewing it second-hand can certainly be made because it's the emotion that is experienced which causes the disorder.
Let's hope this is the beginning of a new compassionate understanding of juror trauma.
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5 Comments:
I sure hope this is the beginning of psychological treatment being made available everywhere to jurors who have to go through a traumatic and long trial.
I live in a province (British Columbia) that is currently going through the Pickton (serial killer) trial. The public has little tolerance for the horrible facts coming out (something our tv news outlets have figured out) and I've been thinking about the impact on the jurors. Truthfully, I am extremely grateful I am not among them.
A friend of mine was a juror in a case of a man stabbed 22 times (yes, probably once would have been enough, and, no, I didn't make this up to discredit gun control laws, although it tends to do that). She said the worst part was the pictures, showing the medical examiner's tools put through holes in the victim (e.g., through his cheek and his tongue) to emphasize the existence of holes. When I asked, she explained the reason: the gross extent of damage put the crime into a higher category with respect to jail time (no capital punishment in MA, where the case was). I think she is surviving well, but it must have been traumatic.
I just served on a first degree murder and attempted murder trial as a juror. It was a very stressful time for all of the jurors, especially since we were not able to talk to anyone about what was causing us so much anxiety during the trial. I am glad the experience is over for me now, and I am very glad that someone is considering the consequences of such a tramatic experience. Thank you for your concern. I am glad to know I am not alone.
I just finished serving on a jury. The charge was first degree pre-meditated murder and also first degree felony murder, along with 11 other various counts of theft and forgery. When we finished on friday and i was walking to my car, i thought i was done and was going to just go on with my life. that the worst was over. not so true. it hit me like a freight train. having to bottle up the emotions from what i had heard and seen for 3 weeks prior and not being able to process it all and talk to someone about it seemed detrimental. the more i thought about it, the more i felt like the victim was my best friend and he killed my best friend. i was grieving like a friend or family member. on top of that, the burden of seeing the autopsy photos and crime scene photos and hearing detectives and others testimony. not to mention, i had just decided the fate of the killer. it was all too much to handle and i literally broke down. that was 3 days ago now and its still just as hard. im struggling with whether or not i brought justice to the victim and her family, since we were only able to convict him of 1st degree felony and not pre-meditated. i dont know how to handle what im feeling and i dont even recognize myself at this point. it is somewhat comforting to know that post traumatic stress for jurors is real and that im not alone. its no help in figuring out where to go from here though.....
I did not mind serving. I prayed not for this case. I prayed for it to be an accident. The mother had lied to the father at delivery and said the baby was different race and sex. She was to adopt out w/o his knowing. Dad wanted the baby. He had DNA Test and filed for custody. He Loved his baby girl. The first admitted shaking was when she was 10 weeks old to the day. She had puked on his clothes. He promised...never again. According to autopsy her brain injury and broken ribs were healing. She was 11 weeks and 1 day old when daddy shook her so hard she died. The DR said her broken knees from flailing while being shaken were not new. I cry and am sick for everyone involved.I just can't get it out of my heart.
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