{"@type": "dcat:Dataset", "accessLevel": "public", "bureauCode": ["011:21"], "contactPoint": {"@type": "vcard:Contact", "fn": "Open Data Office of Justice Programs (USDOJ)", "hasEmail": "mailto:opendata@usdoj.gov"}, "dataQuality": false, "description": "The purpose of this data collection was to assess the\r\neffects of victim impact statements on sentencing decisions and on\r\nvictim satisfaction with the criminal justice system. Victims were\r\nrandomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: (1) Victims\r\nwere interviewed, with an impact statement written and immediately\r\ndistributed to the prosecutor, defense attorney, and judge on the\r\ncase, (2) Victims were interviewed to assess impact but no statement\r\nwas written, and (3) Victims were assigned to a control condition in\r\nwhich there was no interview or statement. Subsequent interviews\r\nevaluated victims' perceptions of their role in the proceedings and\r\ntheir satisfaction with the outcome. Data were also recorded on\r\ncharges filed against the defendants (both the arraignment and final\r\ncharges), sentences, and special conditions of sentences. Standard\r\ndemographic information was gathered as well. The remaining variables\r\nfall into two categories. The first category includes questions about\r\nthe defendant(s) in the case. For all defendants in each case (up to\r\nsix per victim) the researchers recorded information on the nature and\r\nseverity of the arraignment charges and final charges, and on the\r\nsentence received. Additional information was recorded for the first\r\nand second defendants in a case. This included information on special\r\nconditions of the sentence such as a drug treatment program or\r\nrestraining order. Orders to pay restitution were noted. Also recorded\r\nwas information on the defendant's status with the criminal justice\r\nsystem, including number of prior convictions and number of open cases\r\nagainst the defendant. Finally, whether the Victim Impact Statement\r\nappeared in the assistant district attorney's file on the case and\r\nwhether the statement had been opened were noted. The second category\r\nof variables includes information about the victim's reactions to the\r\ncrime and the criminal justice system. Victims were asked to assess\r\nthe impact the crime had on them in terms of physical injury,\r\nfinancial losses, psychological effect, and behavioral effect (i.e.,\r\nchanges in behavior resulting from the experience). They were also\r\nquestioned about their experiences with the criminal justice\r\nsystem. The researchers inquired about their participation in the\r\nsentencing decision, their satisfaction with the outcome, and how they\r\nfelt they had been treated by various court officials. Victims were\r\nasked whether they felt that court officials were aware of and were\r\nconcerned about the effect the crime had on them. They were also asked\r\nwhether victims should have a greater role in the court proceedings\r\nand whether court officials should be aware of victim impact as part\r\nof the sentencing procedure. Finally, the researchers investigated\r\nwhether the victims believed that going to court was a waste of time.", "distribution": [{"@type": "dcat:Distribution", "accessURL": "https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR09588.v1", "title": "Victim Impact Statements:  Their Effect on Court Outcomes and Victim Satisfaction in New York, 1988-1990  "}], "identifier": "3834", "issued": "1991-10-23T00:00:00", "keyword": ["convictions (law)", "court cases", "crime", "criminal justice system", "sentencing", "trials", "victims"], "language": ["eng"], "license": "http://www.usa.gov/publicdomain/label/1.0/", "modified": "1999-12-14T00:00:00", "programCode": ["011:060"], "publisher": {"@type": "org:Organization", "name": "National Institute of Justice", "subOrganizationOf": {"acronym": "OJP", "id": 22, "name": "Office of Justice Programs", "parentOrganization": {"acronym": "DOJ", "id": 10, "name": "Department of Justice"}, "parentOrganizationID": 10}}, "title": "Victim Impact Statements:  Their Effect on Court Outcomes and Victim Satisfaction in New York, 1988-1990  "}