Do Victim Impact Statements Impact Criminal Sentencing? [POLICYbrief]

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-PAU... Related links: In Defense of Victim Impact Statements https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.c... Differing Views: Against victim impact statements https://www.overlawyered.com/2008/03/... Victim Impact Statement In Criminal Sentencing: Success Or Setback For The Criminal Justice Process? https://www.researchgate.net/publicat... What Are Victim-Impact Statements For? https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/... Victim Impact Statements and the Case of Larry Nassar https://lawreview.syr.edu/victim-impa... The Power and Limitations of Victim-Impact Statements https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cul...