In a citizen jury individuals selected at random (not as representatives of organizations) 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; on the jury they do not represent any special interests. Experts provide assistance with specialized aspects. For the duration of the planning process the participants are released from their everyday obligations: they are compensated for loss of earnings, and temporary help is arranged to look after children and care for infirm relatives.

Suitable

 

• for local and regional planning assignments, developing overall strategies
• where it is important that representatives of as many segments of the population as possible should take part on an equal footing
• where stakeholders’ practical knowledge and specialists’ expertise need to be combined

Sequence of events

 

• Individual citizens are selected at random
• All participants are informed in detail about the project in question, and have opportunities to talk with stakeholders, experts, the authorities etc.; there may be a tour of the project site
• The participants work through the various aspects of the project in small groups of constantly changing composition
• The findings are summarized in a citizens’ assessment, which is passed to the initiators

Participants

Citizens selected at random, experts

Point to note

 

• Experts frequently express doubts as to whether non-specialists are sufficiently knowledgeable to draw up a formal assessment. However, experience shows that ordinary citizens’ practical knowledge is an excellent starting-point, and that they soon familiarize themselves with the subject-matter – provided that all the relevant information is available in a suitably digestible form.