Spotlight on victim impact testimony at sentencing

This new piece on CNN.com discusses victim impact statements at sentencing, noting that in "the past few weeks, two high-profile cases — the Zacarias Moussaoui terrorism trial and the Rhode Island fire case — have spotlighted a relatively recent component of the American criminal justice system.  The victim impact statement is an outgrowth of the victims' rights movement that began roughly three decades ago."

Some related posts:

• Ninth Circuit discusses victim's right to allocute at sentencing
• Interesting opinion on the right of victims to allocute at sentencing
• Pondering a victim's role in sentencing
• More on victims at sentencing
• Blakely and victims' rights
• Shaming, remorse, apologies and victims