Whose Statement Is It? An Examination of Victim Impact Statements Delivered in Court

Abstract

Many crime victims today have the opportunity to create, and in some contexts deliver, a victim impact statement in court. While research has examined the effects of this participation on outcomes like sentencing, very little is known about the content of these statements or if the content is influenced by the context in which it is shared (i.e., the courtroom). Using trial transcripts and interviews with criminal justice officials and family members of homicide victims, the current study examines the stories victims share as well as the influence justice system actors have in their creation and delivery.

Keywords:

• victim participation
• victim impact statement
• victims’ rights movement