Where Do I Stand?: An Exploration of the Rules That Regulate Victim Participation in the Criminal Justice System

Abstract

The victims' rights movement has helped promote opportunities for victim participation within the criminal justice system. One such opportunity, the creation and delivery of a victim impact statement, has generated significant empirical attention. Most of this research explores the effects of participation on specific outcomes (e.g., sentencing, victim satisfaction). Yet relatively little is known about the implementation of victim participation in the courtroom by criminal justice workers. Using trial transcripts, courtroom observations, and interviews with criminal justice officials and victims, the current study examines the rules that regulate victim participation, revealing how victims are incorporated into the justice process.