A victim impact statement is pretty much just what it sounds
like. It is a statement in which the victim of a crime is allowed to communicate with the court
regarding the impact that the crime has had on them. The statement can be given in writing or in
person. This is done after the defendant has been convicted but before he or she is sentenced.
This allows the impact statement to be considered when the sentence is being
set.
Many states allow victim impact statements for a number of
reasons. They feel, first of all, that the other parts of the system do not allow much of an
opportunity to give information about the way in which the crime has affected the victim.
Second, they give the victim a way to find some psychological closure -- the victim gets a forum
for his or her feelings about what happened. Finally, these statements can offset statements by
the defendant about why he or she should be treated leniently -- if you're going to consider
mitigating factors in the criminal's life, you should also consider the harm they have done to
their victim.
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