Every courtroom in America allows crime victims to give statements to the judge before sentencing. But how do these statements impact criminal sentencing? In this episode of POLICYbrief, Professor Paul Cassell explains the pros and cons of allowing victim impact statements during criminal sentencing and whether victim impact statements serve an important role in our criminal justice system.

As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

Learn more about Paul Cassell:
https://faculty.utah.edu/u0031056-PAUL_G._CASSELL/hm/index.hml

 

Related links:

In Defense of Victim Impact Statements
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1468649

Differing Views:

Against victim impact statements
https://www.overlawyered.com/2008/03/against-victim-impact-statements/

Victim Impact Statement In Criminal Sentencing: Success Or Setback For The Criminal Justice Process?
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322405791_Victim_Impact_Statement_In_Criminal_Sentencing_Success_Or_Setback_For_The_Criminal_Justice_Process

What Are Victim-Impact Statements For?
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/what-are-victim-impact-statements-for/492443/

Victim Impact Statements and the Case of Larry Nassar
https://lawreview.syr.edu/victim-impact-statements-and-the-case-of-larry-nassar/

The Power and Limitations of Victim-Impact Statements
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-power-and-limitations-of-victim-impact-statements