Jody Lyneé Madeira
Associate Professor
Indiana University Maurer School of Law – Bloomington
I am an Associate Professor of Law at Indiana University who is seeking to interview World Trade Center victims’ families and survivors about how they have coped in the years following September 11, 2001, focusing in particular upon the memorialization processes and the terrorists and the impact of their trials and deaths.
My research career focuses upon how legal proceedings affect murder victims’ family members and survivors. I recently completed an 11-year-long project on the Oklahoma City Bombing in which I interviewed 33 victims’ family members and survivors about the ways in which they coped with the Oklahoma City Bombing, the groups to which they belonged, the capital trials of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols and McVeigh’s execution. This project culminated in a book that was released in June 2012 entitled Killing McVeigh: The Death Penalty and the Myth of Closure (New York University Press). I am also part of a multi-site research coalition of psychologists, criminologists, and sociologists who are interviewing murder victims’ families in state murder cases concerning their feelings about their interactions with criminal justice officials and victims’ services—what was helpful, what was not, and how the criminal justice system can better serve their needs.
I would be deeply indebted if you would consent to a telephone interview about your experiences. Participation in this research study is voluntary, and you may withdraw from the study at any time. The interview would be scheduled at a time most convenient to you and would last approximately one hour. I regret that I would be unable to compensate you for your time, but I can provide you with copies of any publications that result from this research.
If you consent to be interviewed, you may choose whether to be referred to by your actual name or by a random alias to protect your confidentiality. This letter, the questionnaire and all consent forms have been reviewed and approved by a social science review board at Indiana University. This project does not support any political or policy agenda and is not being sponsored or paid for by any organization or grant.
I have always intended for my research to make a difference. By sharing your experiences, you can play a crucial part in developing more realistic, effective, and sensitive policies and procedures.
If you are interested in participating, or if you have any questions, please contact me at jmadeira@indiana.edu or at 812-856-1082. I can be free for an interview whatever time is convenient for you—days, nights, or weekends.
Jody Lyneé Madeira
Associate Professor
Indiana University Maurer School of Law – Bloomington
211 S. Indiana Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
Office: (812) 856-1082
Fax: (812) 855-0555
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