Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Heterogeneity Of Victim Impact Statements: A Content Analysis Of Capital Trial Sentencing Penalty Phase Transcripts, Bryan Myers, Narina Nuñez, Benjamin Wilkowski, Andre Kehn, Katheirne Dunn

Psychology Faculty Publications

Victim impact statements (VISs) are controversial in capital sentencing proceedings largely due to their questionable relevance to sentencing, the concern that characterizations of the victim may lead to arbitrary sentencing judgments, and the belief that the emotional nature of this evidence may be inflammatory. A sample of 192 capital trial VIS transcripts was analyzed for content as well as a linguistic analysis of emotionality. The findings reveal that these statements are highly varied, including their format, length, and relation between the witness and the victim. Despite a legislative mandate that they address the emotional, financial, and physical suffering experienced by …