Interesting policy event about victims

Today I received an e-mail from the Texas Public Policy Foundation discussing an interesting program next month entitled "Giving Victims a Voice."  Details about the event can be found here, where this description is given:

In every criminal prosecution today, it is the state versus the accused, but what about the individual victim of the crime?  Do Texas crime victims deserve more rights, restitution, and most of all, a greater ability to influence prosecutions and sentencing?  Are offender and victim rights really a zero-sum game, or can enhanced victim involvement lead to more restorative sentences and better offender outcomes? Join us for this Policy Primer: Giving Victims a Voice, as we explore these questions and more.

Some related posts about victims and sentencing:

• New study on victim impact testimony
• Victims' rights and the Enron sentencings
• 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
• Shaming, remorse, apologies and victims