How victims rights impact U.S. criminal justice

The criminal justice system’s attention to victims was born of the victim’s rights movement. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan convened a task force on crime victims that urged states to pass a wide range of more protections, like the right to be heard.

✍️: Beth Schwartzapfel & 🎥: Chris Vazquez / The Marshall Project

[turkleton]

My experience with the courts is that they really like the Victims Rights idea until the victim goes against what the prosecution wants. I got robbed a few years ago, and they were in contact with me about making a statement and possibly speaking at the trial. When I said I didn’t think they should go to prison I never heard back from anyone again.

[clarkem.]

I support victims rights but unfortunately the system just uses it to support the prosecution and doesn’t actually listen to victims families insights into the case. When victims families want the killer released or not executed because that’s what their loved one would want or they know the context was complicated, the course never listen to them then.

[TheInstinctWithinV]

That reminds me of how Norway's prison time system works. The terrorist who bombed a building in Oslo and then went on a gun spree on an island full of kids was sentenced to the maximum of 21 years. That's crazy, right? No, because every time he has served 21 years, court will then have full authority to decide whether or not he is safe to release into society. In other words he will be re-sentenced every 21 years until he dies. He's never getting out.

[cavi]

My grandparents were murdered by the armed boyfriend of a relative who came to freeload from out of state and got mad when they were asked to leave. Another 15yo relative had also been with them and was charged and convicted for helping to hide their bodies afterwards.

WTF was a 15yo supposed to do in that I have kids that age now, all I would want is for them to survive. Who the hell expected this kid to stand up to an armed adult? Their murderer should have also faced child abuse charges.

[altrocks]

The thing about victims rights is that the existing systems should be taking their choice and experiences into account, but they don't want to. Making it legally mandatory to do so it's the only way to get these systems to actually work the way they're supposed to.

[BlueRoadCommerce]

The uncomfortable tone she had when she had to acknowledge ronald reagan lol.

[williammoore]

The victim impact statement happens after a verdict on guilt. So if they are making a statement, it's because the defendant is already guilty.

[MutoKei]

Why do they always pick the absolute worst examples for this?
Why is it always "Dude just randomly murdered him in his sleep" Or "Dude was found weeks later with a body in pieces in his fridge"

[Abraham_Kist-Okazaki]

I was in an accident caused by a drunk truck driver and was asked to make a statement about sentencing. I told them that it was too difficult for me. He was lucky as hell that somehow my family and I did not die or sustain any serious injuries and that he should be punished as much as if he had actually killed someone. At the same time, I knew that I had too much anger and rage and that it was the judge's job to decide what the proper penalty would be to bring about justice.

[unordinary_artist]

I listened to the entirety of Violation and oh my god. It was the most insane thing I have ever listened to. From the inconsistency’s in court and the inconsistency’s in stories the whole case is crazy from top to bottom. I would 100% check out that podcast if your a fan of true crime podcasts and looking in depth at one story at a time similar to Serial. Have a great day! <3

[codyj]

Jacob Wideman stabbed Eric Kane multiple times in his sleep, for no reason. He was already given the chance of parole, but he violated said parole in less than 6 months. The only reason anyone care about this particular case is that Jacob has a famous Dad, John Edgar Wideman.

Maybe next time, try to cover all of the facts.

[AzH]

In Saudi, the victims family is central to any decisions regarding the criminal. You committed a crime against the victim and his family, they have rights to decide your fate and whether you are to be forgiven

[Bladepoint]

Ya reconciliation is difficult when it comes to murder. A murderer always has a non-zero possibility of living outside of a prison again, their victim doesn't have a non-zero possibility of not being dead.

[NonsensicalPidgeon]

mercy for the criminal is cruelty for the victums

[mastgamr]

Also saying "sentencing a minor to death for cold-blooded murder is unconstitutional" is total bs

[reverendrico]

The sole point of the trial is to demonstrate the state has sufficient cause to oppress the rights of the accused. Anything that distracts from that is prejudice against the defendant. The prosecution doesn’t need nor should receive any kind of advantage, it already has the unlimited resources of the state.
The victim is only a party in so far as they are a fact witness, or an evidentiary entry. Their rights are not in danger and require no protection.

[The_Mimewar]

Which murder victim’s families DONT want the murdered to rot in prison?

[Ricklyplinth]

A child shouldn't have to spend their entire life in prison unless there is some sort of intractable violent psychopathy. Our punitive justice system does little to help anyone.

[jenniferstewarts]

In this day and age its the "criminal" thats the victim according to DA's, Police, and politicians. You buy a brand new house, the day you are supposed to move in you find all the locks changed and someone living there. Guess who's rights matter more? It doesn't matter that you OWN the house, the squatter can't be kicked out. It has to go through months or even YEARS of court cases because.. their rights.

Gang members kill a 2 year old child in a highway shoot out... Well they are the victims, and the courts should look at just giving them parole.

[GuruGodPlays]

Welcome to the realities of the system we live in. Read the fine print, write the living truth, speak kindly to your neighbors, walk softly, and always remember to carry that big stick my friends.