Jury tampering is a criminal offense in which someone tries to manipulate or influence the outcome of a jury trial by attempting to influence, intimidate, or bribe jurors. The purpose of jury tampering is to get a jury to deliver a verdict favorable to a particular defendant, or otherwise alter the verdict being sought by the prosecution. Jury tampering is illegal in many countries, and is considered a serious offense in the United States.
Examples of Jury Tampering
Examples of jury tampering include: offering bribes or other forms of compensation to jurors; encouraging or attempting to influence the outcome of a case during jury deliberations; threatening jurors or witnesses; and influencing, intimidating or influencing potential jurors or other people involved in the trial process.
Consequences of Jury Tampering
Jury tampering is a serious offense and can result in criminal sanctions. If a person is found guilty of jury tampering, they may be fined, sentenced to prison time, as well as lose their right to practice law. Conviction of this crime can result in a heavy price, including fines and lengthy jail sentences.
How to Avoid Jury Tampering
To help prevent jury tampering, it’s important to always act professionally and ethically when interacting with jurors or other parties involved in a trial. Additionally, it’s important to abide by all courthouse rules and listen to instructions from court personnel. It’s also important to be mindful of what you say to and around jurors, and to avoid trying to influence the jury’s decision in any way.