In our Chapter opening scenario, could the victim's family request that the jury sentence John to death for the drug-related murder? Why would such an action violate the Eighth Amendment, but a victim-impact statement not violate the Constitution?
What is the difference between a victim making an impact statement at a defendant's sentencing hearing and wearing photographs of the victim on buttons throughout trial?
What will be an ideal response?
ANSWER: Answers may vary: The U.S. Supreme Court has held victim impact statements are one piece of information that may be relevant for the judge or the jury to determine an appropriate sentence, but since it is the province of the judge/jury to determine a sentence, victims cannot express their thoughts on what an appropriate sentence might be. Although the high Court did no directly address the issue of wearing buttons, the author believes such a practice violates the defendant's due process rights to a fundamentally fair trial.
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The major premise of this theory is that material goods pervade all aspects of American life.
a. Institutional anomie theory b. General strain theory c. Relative deprivation theory d. Conflict theory
Subcultural and cultural theories assume that ideas, like values and norms, are fairly important essential ingredients in any attempt at understanding how crime is learned
a. TRUE b. FALSE
The differences between male and female prison subcultures have been attributed to the nurturing, ________ qualities of women.
A. educational B. vocational C. psychological D. maternal
When DNA testing caught on, its introduction in court was hotly contested because certain tests had higher margins for error than others
Indicate whether the statement is true or false