2. Citizen Juries - introductory evidence

Citizen or Community Juries are a grass roots method of hearing what the community really thinks when they are informed about an issue. They are life changing for jurors and the organisers behind them. The Citizen Jury is designed to allow decision-makers to hear the people’s voice. It provides an opportunity for citizens to learn about an issue and deliberate together to find a common ground solution¹. 

Citizens' juries permit citizens to engage with evidence, deliberate and advise on a range of complex and demanding health and policy topics ². They are a complex process that allows thoughtful input from a well-informed microcosm of the public ³ on behalf of communities rather than as a consumer or an advocate ⁴.

Use of a trained and experienced facilitator can support citizens to make a well-informed largely consensus decision ⁵.  Deliberation is aimed at transforming participants’ perspectives from initially a self-regarding and limited perspective to take account of a broader perspective inclusive of the public interest.

There are presumptions that individuals are motivated by things beyond self-interest and are not separate entities detached from those around them ⁶

1. The Jefferson Center, Citizens Jury Handbook. 2004.
2. Street J, Duszynski K, Krawczyk S, Braunack-Mayer A. The use of citizens' juries in health policy decision-making: a systematic review. Social science & medicine. 2014;109:1-9.
3. Tully MP, Bozentko K, Clement S, et al. Investigating the extent to which patients should control access to patient records for research: a deliberative process using citizens’ juries. Journal of medical Internet research. 2018;20(3):e7763.
4. Degeling C, Carter SM, Rychetnik L. Which public and why deliberate?–A scoping review of public deliberation in public health and health policy research. Social Science & Medicine. 2015;131:114-121.
5. Street J, Fabrianesi B, Adams C, et al. Sharing administrative health data with private industry: A report on two citizens' juries. Health Expectations. 2021;24(4):1337-1348.
6. Simpson, P.L., et al., Identifying research priorities to improve the health of incarcerated populations:  The Lancet Public Health, 2021. 6(10): p. e771-e779.