THIS RESEARCH IS NOW COMPLETED.
POTENTIAL JURORS’ BELIEFS ABOUT CHILDREN AS WITNESSES IN CRIMINAL TRIALS
INFORMATION SHEET AND CONSENT FORM
You are invited to participate in this study about jurors’ beliefs about child witnesses. The following information is provided to help you to make an informed decision about whether or not you would like to take part.
The research is being conducted by me, a Masters student with the Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Western Australia. The information gained from this study will improve understanding about the way jurors regard evidence provided by children, and therefore whether they need more information about children to make more informed judgments. It should help juries of the future and the justice system itself.
Participation in this study may take up to 30 minutes. To continue, you need to read the juror eligibility declaration (below). If you are eligible, select the link “I agree”. If you are not eligible, then please stop there. If you select "I agree", you will be taken to a consent declaration, essential to your participation. If you consent you will be taken to the questionnaire.
The questionnaire asks you questions regarding your knowledge and beliefs about children as witnesses in criminal trials. As some of the questions relate to sexual abuse of children, do not proceed if this topic upsets you.
Once the information has been collected from you and from other jurors and/or potential-jurors, it will be analysed and I hope that the research will result in data which is useful for improving the approach the legal system takes when dealing jurors who hear testimony from child witnesses, and which is backed up by reliable information.
If you decide to take part in this study, you are free to withdraw at any time, by closing your browser. If you do withdraw by closing your browser, records relating to your responses will be destroyed.
The results of the research may be published in scientific journals or presented at scientific meetings, but individual identities will not be revealed. You will not be asked to put your name on any of the answers you give and your name will not be placed on any record made of your responses. Results will be kept in a secure location, and anything which identifies you will be kept separate from your responses to the questions and will be destroyed.
If you have any questions about this research please feel free to ask me by emailing me at hjhussey@cyllene.uwa.edu.au. If you want me to contact you to discuss your questions, simply include your telephone number. You may also contact my supervisor, Judith Fordham, by email at J.Fordham@murdoch.edu.au or by telephone on on 9360 6582.
HEATHER HUSSEY
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Declaration
These questions are a guide for you to check if you would be eligible to serve on a jury. You should only select "I agree" if you are eligible according to all the following criteria.
I declare that I:
a) Understand the English language;
b) Am an Australian citizen;
c) Am between the ages of 18 and 70 years of age;
d) Have not been imprisoned for a criminal offence in the last 10 years (this does not include failure to pay fines);
e) Have not been found guilty of an offence and been detained in a detention centre or juvenile detention centre in the last 5 years; and
f) Am not any of the following:
i. a judicial officer;
ii. a Justice of the Peace, Sheriff or Bailiff of any Court;
iii. a coroner;
iv. a staff member of either or both Houses of Parliament;
v. an officer or employee in the Ministry of Justice of the Public Service, other than an officer in the Public Trust Office;
vi. a legal practitioner; or
vii. a police officer, special constable or Aboriginal aide appointed under the Police Act 1892, or an employee of the Police Department.
To continue, you need to indicate your agreement to the above declaration by selecting the link “I agree” below, which indicates that you declare that you meet all of the criteria of the above declaration. You will then be taken to the consent declaration.
I agree (disabled as the research is complete) |