Many people have stereotypes about individuals who are accused of sex crimes. One juror recently reported that she went into a trial thinking, "Oh, you sick pick." However, she was one of 10 jurors who eventually determined the accused man was not guilty of raping a 10-year-old relative.

The woman was not alone in changing her mind during the trial. In fact, her change of heart represents a movement that is affecting individuals in Pittsburgh and throughout the country.

Juries have deadlocked or acquitted individuals accused of sex crimes in 43 percent of the child molestation cases in one county. Historically, all but one or two child molestation suspects are found guilty each year during trials in that county.

So what is to blame for the change in attitude?

Legal experts think there could be a few elements at play. One theory is that the change is reflective of the number of prosecutors who are bringing cases with weak or no evidence. Other legal experts believe the jurors are to blame for the shift. Experts who stand behind that line of thinking believe jurors have unrealistic expectations because of shows like CSI. Those experts think jurors expect too much hard evidence in cases where there is often little or no evidence.

However, the majority of experts have a different theory regarding the change. Those experts also put the blame on the jurors, though it is in a more positive way. They believe that jurors are finally putting their own prejudices aside and are judging cases based on their actual merit.

It may be impossible to know the exact reason for the change. However, the shift is reassuring.

Source: Mercury News, "Santa Clara County experiencing surprising spike in deadlocked juries in molestation trials," Tracey Kaplan, Nov. 26, 2011