AB 2985: Courts: mental health advisement.

The Trial Jury Selection and Management Act requires all persons be selected for jury service at random, from a source or sources inclusive of a representative cross section of the population of the area served by the court. Existing law requires the court, in a criminal jury trial, to conduct an initial examination of prospective jurors.

This bill would require the court, in a criminal action or proceeding alleging a violent felony, as defined, after the receipt of a verdict or where a jury did not render a verdict, but before discharging the jury, to provide written information to the trial jurors, and distribute, in a manner determined by the court, information to the discharged alternate jurors, about mental health awareness, including information about stress relief and symptoms that may be experienced following exposure to trauma. The bill would authorize the court to provide this information to jurors or alternate jurors in other criminal proceedings. The bill would require the Judicial Council to develop the written educational information that the court is required to print and distribute, as specified.