---
title: 'Sherrerd Hartness on Victims’ Needs, Trauma, and the Limits of the Death Penalty'
description: '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…'
canonical: 'https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/resources/podcasts/discussions-with-dpic/sherrerd-hartness-on-victims-needs-trauma-and-the-limits-of-the-death-penalty'
section: podcasts
date: '2026-04-29T13:02:00-04:00'
updated: '2026-04-29T13:08:11-04:00'
source: 'Death Penalty Information Center'
---

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.