Dr. Sandy Joy, a professor of Sociology at Rowan University, recently returned from a sabbatical spent collecting research for her next publication. She explored the vicarious trauma that is likely to arise from witnessing executions, regardless of the reason for being present in the death chamber. Stop by for a visit with Sandy to learn about the emotional firsthand recollections of people from a variety of backgrounds, and difficult details they experienced as a witness.
On October 20, 2022, Sandy Joy and her dog Nova embarked upon a cross-country trip in her RV that lasted eight months, returning back home in June 2023. During that time, she conducted interviews in those states that have the death penalty with people who have witnessed executions. Check out this map of where Sandy traveled to document interviews along the way. Visit with Sandy to hear about her journey and the interviews that expose the traumas behind the executions.