BPS urges focus on juror mental health ahead of inaugural Jury Duty Appreciation Week

Dedicated psychological support for jurors must be a priority for the next government, according to the British Psychological Society. 

The BPS is concerned that jurors who are exposed to distressing evidence, sometimes over several months, are particularly at risk. Jurors can potentially go without psychological support throughout a case and can be 'dropped' at the end of their service, with no support available.  

The warning comes ahead of the first ever Jury Duty Appreciation Week (6-10 May), designed to highlight the 'unsung heroes' of the justice system, which the BPS is proudly supporting.   

Dr Roman Raczka, President-Elect of the BPS, said:   

"Following our work to raise awareness of the lack of psychological support for jurors, we are proud to support the inaugural Jury Duty Appreciation Week. 

"It's important to remember that jurors are members of the public who have been required to join court processes from their everyday lives, and who can potentially be exposed to material far beyond what they are used to seeing."

New research from psychologists at Manchester Metropolitan University has found 50 per cent of jurors experience signs of post-trial trauma such as nightmares, intrusive memories, and sleep disturbances. The team also discovered a fourfold increase in signs of PTSD amongst jurors following short term exposure to murder case materials. 

Jurors, who are often exposed to material that could result in vicarious trauma*, are currently signposted to their GP to access NHS Talking Therapies and the Samaritans, should they experience distress or mental health difficulties following their jury service.  

However, with waiting lists for NHS mental health services at record levels, the BPS is urging the government to provide more efficient psychological support for jurors. This should at the very least be provided when cases meet a certain threshold for the type of case and the evidence jurors are expected to consider. 

Dr Raczka continued:  

"Material jurors face could include graphic detail and images about extreme physical, sexual, and emotional harm, and further contextual information, which creates a strong potential for people to experience vicarious trauma. 

"We must ensure that the role and importance of jurors is recognised, and that includes recognising the potentially damaging mental health impact of being part of a jury during particularly distressing and traumatising cases. 

"We want to see proper psychological support available during and after trials, to ensure a better experience for all within the criminal justice system." 

One solution could include replicating the model used in Scotland where there is a dedicated counselling service for jurors. The BPS is also calling for a 24/7, 365-day support phone line and online service is established for jurors with referrals made to in-person services where necessary. 

*Vicarious trauma is defined as exposure to someone else's trauma. It can have a significant mental health impact and, if not mitigated against or treated effectively, can be a pathway to post-traumatic stress disorder. Vicarious trauma can become a reality when individuals are exposed frequently or repeatedly to traumatic material.