Sherrerd Hartness
In the April 2026 episode of 12:01: The Death Penalty in Context, DPI Managing Director Anne Holsinger speaks with Sherrerd Hartness, a writer and speaker who advocates for victims’ families and co-victims of murder. In 1977, Ms. Hartness’s sister, Carlotta, was killed — an experience that shaped her understanding of the long-term emotional impact of violent crime on families and communities. Her work now focuses on raising awareness about the needs of co-victims and the emotional challenges they face in the aftermath of loss.
Ms. Hartness describes growing up in the South, where discussions of murder were often treated as taboo. She explained that the absence of support following her sister’s death left her struggling with unrecognized depression, recalling that she “could not function” and was often “sleeping 16 to 17 hours a day.” She noted that expectations to resume daily routines — such as returning to school — without adequate support contributed to the “disintegration” of her family and reflected a broader lack of public understanding about grief after violent loss. This gap in awareness motivated her advocacy to help others better understand what victims’ families need.
Discussing the role of the death penalty in victim healing, Ms. Hartness said that executions often reopen emotional wounds rather than provide closure. She described the belief that the death penalty serves victims’ families as “very short-sighted,” explaining that the process can trigger “an avalanche of memories and emotions and horror.” Drawing on her own conversations with other victims’ families, as well as high-profile cases in the news, she emphasized that victims’ families do not all share the same views on capital punishment, and argued that their perspectives should be considered when decisions about punishment are being made.
Ms. Hartness also pointed out how the negative effects of the death penalty process are twofold and serve as an additional source of trauma for all parties involved. She explained that prolonged litigation, media attention, and repeated revisiting of the crime can compound the harm experienced by victims’ families, while also affecting the families of those facing execution, who may experience guilt and stigma. In her view, the resources devoted to capital punishment would be better directed toward victim support services and preventative interventions aimed at addressing the conditions, such as untreated mental illness and unstable environments, that can contribute to violent crime.
She further noted that since 1991, at least 28 million people in the United States have had the experience of having a family member murdered, and that this figure has not been updated, meaning the number is likely significantly higher today. She explains that, in her view, this statistic reinforces the need to develop better victim assistance programs. Based on her experience, Ms. Hartness identifiedconnection, listening, and shared understanding as critical forms of support. Reflecting on her own experience, she said she wished more people had asked how to support her, noting that even the act of asking could have helped provide her with “years of a better life.”
