20BOffence: sharing research with other jurors

1

It is an offence for a member of a jury that tries an issue in a case before a court intentionally to disclose information to another member of the jury during the trial period if—

a

the member contravened section 20A in the process of obtaining the information, and

b

the information has not been provided by the court.

2

Information has been provided by the court if (and only if) it has been provided as part of—

a

evidence presented in the proceedings on the issue, or

b

other information provided to the jury or a juror during the trial period by, or with the permission of, the judge dealing with the issue.

3

A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a fine (or both).

4

Proceedings for an offence under this section may not be instituted except by or with the consent of the Attorney General.

5

In this section, “the trial period” has the same meaning as in section 20A.