| NCJ Number: |
151005   |
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| Title: |
Victim Impact Statements in South Australia: An Evaluation |
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| Author(s): |
E Erez; L Roeger; F Morgan |
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| Corporate Author: |
South Australia Office of Crime Statistics and Research
Attorney General's Dept
Australia |
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| Date Published: |
1994 |
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| Page Count: |
96 |
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| Sponsoring Agency: |
National Institute of Justice/
Rockville, MD 20849
NCJRS Photocopy Services
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
South Australia Office of Crime Statistics and Research
Adelaide, SA 5001, South Australia |
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| Sale Source: |
National Institute of Justice/
NCJRS paper reproduction
Box 6000, Dept F
Rockville, MD 20849
United States of America
NCJRS Photocopy Services
Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
United States of America
South Australia Office of Crime Statistics and Research
Attorney General's Dept
GPO Box 464
Adelaide, SA 5001,
Australia |
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| Document: |
PDF |
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| Type: |
Program/Project Evaluation |
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| Language: |
English |
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| Country: |
Australia |
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| Annotation: |
Victim impact statements in South Australia were evaluated with respect to their effects on the criminal justice process, victim satisfaction with the criminal justice system, and sentencing outcomes. |
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| Abstract: |
Information came from interviews with attorneys and judges, a questionnaire survey that received responses from 427 victims of serious crimes, and an analysis of sentencing trends and decisions in assault cases. Results revealed that despite the poor implementation of victim impact statements, many judges and prosecutors believe that information about victim harm has improved since the introduction of the victim statements. Defense attorneys said they were often suspicious of material relating to victims' emotional harm, but they rarely challenge the statements because of the potential damaging effect on sentencing. Judges varied in their views of how important the statements are for sentencing; most professionals believed that the statements have not increased the severity of sentencing. Victims who provided information for statements and those who did not had similar levels of satisfaction with the criminal justice system; satisfaction was significantly correlated with the sentence imposed. The statements did not appear to have changed the proportion of sentences of imprisonment or to have affected sentence lengths. Findings provide support for the positions of both those who favor victim impact statements and those who oppose them. Figures, tables, appended victim impact statement form and additional results, and 63 references |
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| Main Term(s): |
Victim impact statements |
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| Index Term(s): |
South Australia; Victims in foreign countries |
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| Note: |
Series C, No. 6 |
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To cite this abstract, use the following link:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=151005 |
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