We love a good courtroom drama, especially when it features a fictional jury of our peers. But it turns out that jury duty has real-world upsides, too. According to research from the Jury and Democracy Project at Penn State University, jury service has positive, lasting effects on civic engagement.
A study of jurors on criminal trials found that…
The researchers isolated one element of jury duty – deliberation – as the key factor. Weighing evidence, discussing it with others, and reaching a conclusion that impacts another person’s life adds up to a powerful experience. Could we get those same civic benefits by creating the deliberative experience outside of a courtroom?
We think so (and the researchers do too). Deliberation is the core of a citizen assembly, where a representative group of people makes policy recommendations to a government. It’s also a critical element of the Center for Democracy Innovation’s Better Public Meetings program. Civic Genius introduces communities to deliberation through It’s Your America, a fun and accessible workshop that builds skills for problem-solving across differences.
Is your community ready to start building its civic muscle? If you’re not lucky enough to be selected for jury duty, reach out to us about bringing the deliberative experience to your community.
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