Originally Posted by signupdamnit

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.