A crime resulting in the death of or severe injury to the victim can have a profound impact on a spouse, children, co-workers, brothers and sisters, and the community. Some contend that the criminal justice system focuses too much on the troubled past of the defendant and not the devastating impact on the victim of violent crime.
Thread:
- Assume you are on a committee that has been asked to evaluate the current rules regarding what information may be presented regarding:1) the defendant's past and, 2) the impact of the victim's injuries/death as a result of the crime.
- Evaluate the current rules regarding the admission of prior crimes or bad acts by the defendant as well as how his background/life led him to commit the crime.
- Evaluate the current rules regarding the admission of prior crimes or bad acts by the victim as well as the limitations on victim impact statements.
- You may use either the federal court rules or your state's rules.
- Provide both the scriptural and scholarly criminal sources you are relying on to form your analysis.