{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/40661.json"},"data":{"type":"archived-petition","id":40661,"parliament":{"period":"2010-2015","government":"Conservative – Liberal Democrat coalition","dissolution_at":"2015-03-30T23:59:59.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Youths to be allowed to elect jury trials when charged with either way offences","background":null,"additional_details":"Sign my petition.\r\n\r\nA jury trial consists of 11 randomly selected people who assess the evidence and credibility of a witness, something which is available to ALL adults who are charged with an either way offence.\r\n\r\nYouths however do not have that option. Instead their innocence or guilt is decided by either 1 District Judge or 3 Magistrates many of whom are de-sensitised to the every day offences brought to court. This is inherently unsatisfactory, especially in cases of a sexual nature.\r\n\r\nThe jury system is at the heart of our criminal justice system. Jurors bring independent thought and real life experiences to a court room. It is only through this diversity of thought and opinion that a fair verdict may be delivered.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","committee_note":null,"state":"rejected","signature_count":12,"created_at":"2012-10-22T19:06:58.000Z","updated_at":"2017-06-21T15:11:44.253Z","rejected_at":"2017-06-21T15:11:44.249Z","opened_at":"2012-10-23T09:23:54.000Z","closed_at":"2013-10-23T09:23:54.000Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2012-10-22T19:06:58.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"rejection":{"code":"duplicate","details":"Removed at request of petitioner."},"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}}}