Book Review: Beyond Suppression: Global Perspectives on Youth Violence

• Author: Reza Barmaki
• Published date: 01 September 2013
• Date: 01 September 2013
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/1057567713494791
• Subject Matter: Book Reviews

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International Criminal Justice Review 23(3)
meta analysis techniques, Devine provides the reader with a detailed and well-organized summary of
research to date with a wealth of references for further information. While the literature review is
thorough and well organized, it could be somewhat tedious for those only looking for a survey of
the state of the science of jury research. Because this section of the text comprises roughly two-
thirds of the text, this book in general may not be well suited for the introductory level student or
scholar. However, this level of detail may be particularly useful for legal scholars and practitioners
interested in the finer aspects of jury selection and policy evaluation.
The final two chapters of this book contain what is arguably the most important aspect and the focus
of the text: Devine’s theoretical model for juror and jury decision making. Devine presents two tandem
models. The first of these models, he calls the ‘‘Director’s Model’’ which examines the factors that
shape how jurors assess information provided both before and during the trial in their individual
attempt to construct a ‘‘story’’ of what happened. The ‘‘Story Sampling’’ model examines how jurors
interact in the deliberation stage of the trial to determine a mutually accepted ‘‘story’’ that forms the
basis for the verdict. The models are quite complex and incorporate a number of factors too intricate
for a full discussion in this review. However, it is important to note that the variables and processes
included are well informed by the empirical research reviewed previously in the text. Both models
interact to explain how a verdict is reached through complex cognitive processes and social interac-
tions. Finally, Devine provides a list of hypotheses and suggestions for testing these proposed theories.
This last component of the book accomplishes what the author sets out to do. It provides an inte-
grated, multifaceted theory of jury decision making. As the author acknowledges, some elements of
the models may be missing, but the models provide the means to unify diverse research and theore-
tical perspectives into a cohesive model for further analysis. However, it seems that such complex
models warrant more discussion than only two chapters. Devine...