Citizen jury

A Citizen Jury is a citizen participation method to determine culture aspects and ethics aspects in planning of secure public spaces. All participants are informed in detail about the project in question, and have opportunities to talk with stakeholders, experts, the authorities etc. The participants work through the various aspects of the project in small groups of constantly changing composition. The findings are summarised in a citizens’ assessment.

Support of planning for secure public spaces
The Citizen Jury method can help to better address the social dimension of planning of secure public spaces in the following ways:


 * It supports the consideration of culture and ethics aspects across groups of population when planning security measures by configuration of built environment;
 * It supports the identifcation of citizens' views and perceptions of local (in)security and risks;
 * It supports local and regional planning assignments based on societal requirements;
 * It supports the development of overall strategies in cases, where it is important that representatives of as many segments of the population as possible should take part on an equal footing;
 * It supports the combination of stakeholders' practical knowledge and specialists' expertise.

Process description

 * In a Citizen Jury, individuals are selected at random (not as representatives of organisations).
 * They draw up a "citizens’ assessment" of a particular issue, based on their own experience and knowledge.
 * The participants make their recommendations and assessments from the point of view of the common weal.
 * Participants do not represent any special interests.

Links and further reading

 * Information on the Process of a Citizen Jury. Retrieved from: http://www.jefferson-center.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={2BD10C3C-90AF-438C-B04F-88682B6393BE} [last access: 2012-10-22].
 * People and participation.net: Description of Citizen Jury. Retrieved from: http://www.peopleandparticipation.net/display/Methods/Citizens+Jury [last access: 2012-10-22].
 * Participation & Sustainable Development in Europe. Retrieved from: http://www.partizipation.at/citizen-jury.html [last access: 2012-08-20].