Quote:
Originally Posted by justinsain
I thought they got locked in a room during the trial.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-...-trial-jurors/
ORLANDO, FLA. About $33,000 was spent to sequester the six female jurors who acquitted George Zimmerman of any crime for fatally shooting Trayvon Martin, according to details released Wednesday by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff's office spent almost 10 times that amount ? $320,000 ? on total costs related to the trial, including overtime and equipment.
During their three weeks of sequestration, jurors took an excursion to St. Augustine, Fla.; watched the movies "The Lone Ranger" and "World War Z;" went on bowling excursions; and saw Fourth of July fireworks.
All television, Internet use, mail and phone calls were screened and logged by deputies who provided security for them at all times. Jurors were allowed to use their cell phones once a day to check for voicemails and make calls in front of a deputy, according to the sheriff's office.
Jurors ate most of their breakfast and dinner meals at the Marriott hotel where they stayed during sequestration. They dined out twice.
They received visits on weekends from family and friends, who had to sign an agreement promising not to discuss anything related to the case. |
They were still permitted to make calls but it was in front of a deputy. If you think about it it is entirely possible to come up with code words or code phrases in advance to convey basic things such as which way the jury is leaning. For instance "If I bring up the car that means we are leaning towards acquittal. If I bring up the house that means we are leaning towards guilty".
Depending on how things were done there are other ways to convey messages too. For instance if there are visible windows and someone knows the floor and general area they are on there could be an agreement to do something like flash the lights in a predefined way as part of a code.
Could you also completely rule out listening devices too? I highly doubt they strip searched the jury.
To a great extent you rely on the jurors not intentionally engaging in any misconduct. The only other way to stop that is total isolation in a prison with no outside contact and things like strip searches.
