RT Article
T1 Prosecutorial Use of Victim Video Statements in Domestic Violence Cases
JF Crime & delinquency
VO 68
IS 9
SP 1492
OP 1515
A1 Backes, Bethany
A1 Wasim, Anna
A1 Busch-Armendariz, Noel
A1 LaMotte, Jennifer
A1 Wood, Leila
A2 Wasim, Anna
A2 Busch-Armendariz, Noel
A2 LaMotte, Jennifer
A2 Wood, Leila
LA English
YR 2022
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1839616369
AB Prosecuting agencies frequently dismiss domestic violence cases due to lack of adequate evidence and limited victim participation in the case. Evidence-based prosecution asserts high quality evidence can enhance prosecutorial decision-making and reduce the reliance on victims. Video-recorded victim statements offer a potential improvement to evidence quality by capturing additional visual and factual information for prosecutors to determine applicable charges. This qualitative study examines data from six prosecution agencies in a southwestern state to understand how they use video-recorded victim statements to inform their decision-making. Findings provide preliminary evidence on the strength of video-recorded statements in offering more information on the victim, crime, and scene; strengthening negotiations with defense counsel; enhancing case strategies; and improving victim engagement. Implications for continued research and practice are discussed.
K1 Domestic Violence
K1 prosecutorial decision-making
K1 victim statements
K1 video evidence
DO 10.1177/00111287211047540