Legal Definitions - jury tampering

Jury tampering is when someone tries to influence a juror's decision in a trial by talking to them privately or giving them information that is not allowed in court. This is against the law and can result in serious consequences.

• Bribing a juror with money or gifts to sway their decision
• Threatening or intimidating a juror to make them vote a certain way
• Talking to a juror outside of court and giving them information about the case that was not presented in court

These examples show how someone can try to unfairly influence a juror's decision. It is important for jurors to make their decision based only on the evidence presented in court and not be influenced by outside factors.

Jury tampering is a serious offense and can result in criminal charges. Depending on the state, it can be a felony or a misdemeanor. In New York, for example, bribing a juror is a class D felony and can result in up to seven years in prison.

The law prohibits jury tampering to ensure that everyone has a fair trial with an impartial jury. If someone is accused of jury tampering, they must prove that their actions did not affect the jury's decision.