Victims may lose their opportunity to actively participate in the process of presenting their experiences to a jury due to _____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When cases are settled through plea negotiations, there is no trial and thus no opportunity for victims to actively participate in the process of presenting their experiences to a jury. In contrast, if a case goes to trial, there may be opportunities for victims to testify as witnesses and present their experiences to the jury. Public prosecutors are also likely to call victims as witnesses, and while judges may not always consider victim experiences as key evidence, victim impact statements are often allowed in court. While some victims may indeed be unwilling to appear in court, this is not the only reason why victims may lose their opportunity to actively participate in the legal process.

Victims May Lose Their Opportunity to Actively Participate in the Process