Citizens' Juries, Citizens' Panels and Citizens' Assemblies

Citizens' Jury

A Citizens’ Jury is a form of participatory research where a small, diverse group (usually 12-25 people) evaluates evidence and provides recommendations on specific issues.

The group is chosen to represent a community. They hear from experts, discuss different perspectives, and deliberate. After careful consideration they provide recommendations or a decision. It is a way to involve everyday people in making informed contributions to policies or solutions.

Suitable for:

Citizens’ Juries are useful when an issue is complicated, where knowledge is contested and there may be important ethical and social repercussions. A Citizens’ Jury can be used on different policy issues and involves people in developing their knowledge of a policy area, asking questions of expert witnesses, collective group discussions and deliberations to reach a final decision. They are often designed to deliver on things such as:

Providing a specific verdict or decision
Recommendations for delivery
Clarity on priorities for improvement
Clarity of preferences towards proposals.

Type of engagement:

The involve and delegate icons in a row.

Involve | Delegate

How to do it:

A Citizens' Jury typically lasts between 2 to 4 days, depending on the topic. It is important to choose suitable venues and make sure there is enough time for everyone.
Identify who is affected by your topic and select a representative group of about 12 to 25 people. Let them know what will be expected.
Prepare a key question related to the issue or present a series of options for the Jury to think about.
Prepare information packs for the participants and consider what they need to attend, like covering their expenses and providing support.
Plan surveys for before and after the event to see how opinions change.
Recruit and prepare expert witnesses.
Hire independent moderators to help with the discussions.
On the first day, explain the rules and start the discussion.
Throughout the event, bring in experts to give detailed information. The Jury can ask them questions and discuss the issues.
At the end of the discussions, reach a consensus on recommendations.
Finally, compile a report and, if appropriate, arrange a presentation for the commissioning body.

Advantages	Challenges
It helps get people involved who do not usually have a say in decisions It includes different types of people from the community It helps manage different opinions and makes the decision-making process transparent Being seen as fair and unbiased makes people trust the process more It gives people a chance to really understand the issues Regular community members get to take part, ensuring decisions reflect everyone’s needs.	Jury members need to reflect the community A Citizens’ Jury requires choosing jurors and experts and planning the schedule Independent moderators are required, which may be costly Everyone must understand the process and how the results will be used; this takes time to plan and organise The Jury may need up to 4 days to come to a decision / recommendations The commissioning body must follow the recommendations or explain why not The process can be expensive.

Advantages

Challenges

It helps get people involved who do not usually have a say in decisions
It includes different types of people from the community
It helps manage different opinions and makes the decision-making process transparent
Being seen as fair and unbiased makes people trust the process more
It gives people a chance to really understand the issues
Regular community members get to take part, ensuring decisions reflect everyone’s needs.

Jury members need to reflect the community
A Citizens’ Jury requires choosing jurors and experts and planning the schedule
Independent moderators are required, which may be costly
Everyone must understand the process and how the results will be used; this takes time to plan and organise
The Jury may need up to 4 days to come to a decision / recommendations
The commissioning body must follow the recommendations or explain why not
The process can be expensive.

Further information:

What is a Citizens' Jury? | Inclusive research | Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory

Case study:

Citizen’s Jury on Shared Decision Making (external, Health Improvement Scotland)