Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2)

PART 3 U.K. Courts and tribunals

Juries and members of the Court Martial U.K.

72 Sharing research with other jurors U.K.

In the Juries Act 1974, after section 20A insert—

“20B Offence: 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.”

Commencement Information

I1 S. 72 in force at 13.4.2015 by S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 57 (with Sch. 2 para. 3(a))