The Influence of Victim Impact Statements on Sentencing in Capital Cases

Gordon, Trina; Brodsky, Stanley L.

doi:10.1300/j158v07n02_03

Cited by 19 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 8 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Even if jurors do delay a sentencing verdict until the sentencing phase, jurors may have difficulty accurately weighing aggravators and mitigators, and the emotional nature of impact statements may further affect the manner in which jurors assess such trial information. However, Gordon and Brodsky (2007) found that the presence of VISs in a mock capital trial did not have an effect on participants' ability to weigh aggravators and mitigators. Even upon reading a VIS, participants gave more lenient sentencing when there were mitigating circumstances such as schizophrenia, mental retardation, hospitalization for a mental illness, or sexual abuse as a child.…”

Section: The Effects Of Impact Statements On Emotions Perceptions Amentioning

confidence: 88%

How Victim and Execution Impact Statements Affect Mock Jurors’ Perceptions, Emotions, and Verdicts

Boppre

Miller

2014

Victims & Offenders

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study examines the effects of Victim Impact Statements (VISs) and Execution Impact Statements (EISs) on death-qualified mock jurors through a 2 (VIS/no VIS) by 2 (EIS/no EIS) between-subjects design in which participants read a capital murder trial and completed an online survey. The VIS and EIS had no effect on verdicts, but the VIS increased participants' negative emotions as well as perceptions of the victim and those who gave impact statements. Conversely, the EIS increased positive emotions and perceived remorsefulness of the defendant. Lastly, the VIS and EIS interacted to influence perceptions of the victim. Implications for victims and the legal system are discussed.

show abstract

Section: The Effects Of Impact Statements On Emotions Perceptions Amentioning

confidence: 88%

How Victim and Execution Impact Statements Affect Mock Jurors’ Perceptions, Emotions, and Verdicts

Boppre

Miller

2014

Victims & Offenders

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Past studies on VIS and sentencing have, with little exception, found smallto-moderate effects on outcome measures (e.g. Butler, 2008;Luginbuhl & Burkhead, 1995;Gordon & Brodsky, 2007;Green-McGowan & Myers, 2004;Myers & Arbuthnot, 1999;Myers et al, 2002Nadler & Rose, 2003). Moreover, the degree of suffering expressed in the VIS was quite extensive, and certainly no less than the suffering expressed in cases such as Booth, Gathers, or Payne.…”

Section: Limitations and Cautionsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Victim impact statements and crime heinousness: a test of the saturation hypothesis

Myers

Roop

Kalnen

et al. 2013

Psychology, Crime & Law

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In Payne v. Tennessee (1991), it was argued that the harmful effects of a victim impact statement (VIS) during sentencing are diminished as the heinousness of the crime increases. We tested this hypothesis by giving 180 mock jurors a summary of a murder trial that varied the presence/absence of VIS along with the crime heinousness (more/less). Participants gave significantly harsher sentencing ratings when VIS was present than when it was absent, and crime heinousness also significantly affected sentencing ratings. However, a significant heinousness by VIS interaction failed to emerge for sentencing, perceptions of victim suffering, or anger toward defendant.

show abstract

“…In addition, extended periods of childhood abuse suffered by the defendant were associated with an increase in juror compassion. Gordon and Brodsky (2007) found that mock jurors were more likely to be lenient in capitol sentencing in the presence of victim impact statements when there were mitigating circumstances such as mental retardation, hospitalization for a mental illness, schizophrenia, or sexual abuse as a child.…”

Section: Dual-edged Sword Of Mental Illness As a Mitigating Factor -Bmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Disorder and Criminal Law

Morse

2009

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Influence of Victim Impact Statements on Sentencing in Capital Cases

Cited by 19 publications

References 8 publications

How Victim and Execution Impact Statements Affect Mock Jurors’ Perceptions, Emotions, and Verdicts

How Victim and Execution Impact Statements Affect Mock Jurors’ Perceptions, Emotions, and Verdicts

Victim impact statements and crime heinousness: a test of the saturation hypothesis

Mental Disorder and Criminal Law

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About