Justice as therapy: The victim rights clarification act

The Victim Rights Clarification Act of 1997 was passed on behalf of the victims and family members of the Oklahoma City bombing. This essay uses narrative analysis to examine the debate for the law, arguing that legislation enacted in response to tragedy contributes to harmful misperceptions about crime victims and alleviation of their suffering.

Key concepts:

• narrative
• Oklahoma City bombing
• therapeutic discourse
• tragedy
• victims' rights