Benefits of Jury Duty

I've noticed many posts about how to get out of Jury duty. With all those comments, the question then becomes, "What are the benefits?" Psychologically, there are many reasons people try to find a way out. They could include the fear of the defendant looking for vengeance against those who were responsible for their incarceration, the responsibility of someone's fate is too great for them, or so on. In select states, a juror could get pay from their employer and pay for jury duty service without loss of vacation time.

Remember though, jury duty should not be about materialistic gains. It should fill an individual with pride in their system, knowing that the system of law can work. It gives a participant a responsibility that can save or condemn a life. It can provide new experiences or insights about our system that cannot be learned in textbooks or television. Remember, one person can make a difference. One person can question the guilt or innocence of the defendant. One person can save a life... or condemn it. The benefit should be knowing that one person can make a positive difference in our society, one individual, or both.