Abstract

Juries in England and Wales have been an essential part of the legal system for centuries. They are designed to act as a fair and equal representation of society to allow for an impartial verdict on the guilt of any given individual. However, jury trials have been a growing source of contention in rape trials for many years. This is as a result of a range of factors including the ability of lay people to understand complex legal requirements and tests along with the inherent prejudicial bias of a jury. Given the debate around the issues surrounding the place of juries in rape trials and their suitability, this research will evaluate the effectiveness of juries in such cases and what alternatives could be implemented in their place.