The death penalty is one of the most controversial topics in the criminal justice system. In the US criminal justice system, the government represents the victim. At the time of sentencing, many states allow victim impact statements. There are additional issues to consider in the application of the death penalty. Some of these issues are race, age, and cost.
Use the Online Library resources to research the role of the victims in sentencing a defendant.
- Discuss what you learned, focusing on such topics as racial disparity, juveniles, and victim impact statements. Be sure to cite your sources of information in the APA style.
- Describe a specific case you learned about in the news where victims' rights figured prominently (either in a positive or in a negative way).