How I Got Out of Jury Duty... By Telling the Truth

Last week I reported for jury duty at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles. Right after lunch, my name was called to sit in the jury box and be interviewed by the judge to see if I would be an impartial juror on a felony case. The first question he asked me was what I did for a living. I responded that I am a documentary filmmaker, currently working on a film about Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans in an innovative Veterans Court as a special project of the web series "In Their Boots" (www.intheirboots.com).

He was curious about the Veterans Court and I explained to him that it is set up as a treatment court to address the problems of PTSD and substance abuse among veterans who have returned home and been charged with crimes. One of the major differences between a Veterans Court and a typical felony court is that the veteran clients avoid incarceration in exchange for a guilty plea and a commitment to follow a rigorous 18 month treatment plan. I told the judge that this model has changed my views of the most effective ways to address criminal behavior. In the treatment court model, community agencies and the legal system work together to provide accountability and targeted resources for offenders rather than incarceration. I have seen the success stories of these veterans firsthand and I voiced my belief that treatment courts are a more effective way to promote public safety than incarceration. Not to mention the fact that they are far more cost-effective than putting people in prison.

The judge thanked me for my honesty, and I was the first person dismissed by the prosecutor via peremptory challenge. I hope someday that our criminal justice system will accommodate prospective jurors like me who favor rehabilitation over incarceration. Until then, I've got an surefire excuse to avoid jury duty every time.