According to its long title, the purpose of the act is "to consolidate certain enactments relating to juries, jurors and jury service with corrections and improvements made under the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act 1949."

Among others, the act states who is eligible for jury service in England and Wales, who is disqualified, and who may be excused.

Under the provisions of the act, any individual is qualified to serve as a juror or be called upon for jury duty in the Crown Court, High Court or county courts if: Section 17 of the act re-enacts with modifications the provisions of section 13 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967,[3] allowing majority verdicts in England and Wales: in the Crown Court or High Court, one juror may dissent without resulting in a hung jury if the jury consists of at least ten persons, or two if there are at least eleven; and at least seven must agree in the County Court regardless of size.

The court also has power to excuse any person who has good reason to be excused, in particular a serving member of the armed forces whose commanding officer certifies that it would be prejudicial to the efficiency of the service for them to be absent from duty.

Until the coming into force of Schedule 33 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 on 5 April 2004, the following were disqualified: Additionally, the following persons could be excused from jury service as of right: The act also states that personation of a juror may result in the trial in which the juror sat being voided; but other irregularities will not, unless the irregularity was objected to as soon as practicable.