Victim Impact Statement Policy: Questions And Answers

Slide 2: Introduction of Victim Impact statement policy:

Victim impact statements involves the victim expressing to the court how the crime affected them. The victim impact statement is a written statement which is verbally communicated in the court room. It is optional the victim is not under any obligation to produce a Victim impact statement. Primary victims are not the only ones who can provide statements, friends or family can act on behalf of them. Victim Impact Statements involve explaining how the crime physically impacted on the victim, any injuries that have come from the crime, long term and short term injuries. Emotional trauma the victim has experienced or is still experiencing after the crime, mental Trauma such as PTS disorder or depression. Financial problems the victim has suffered from the crime, paying for hospital bills or retrieval of stolen items if crime involved theft. And finally socially, how has the crime impacted the victims social life, are they afraid to go out? Normal activities are now a struggle, life has been completely altered. Victim impact statements can assist the court proceedings with how the crime impacted on the victim, the personal circumstances of the victim and any injury or loss as a result of the crime committed against the victim (victimsofcrime.gov.au, 2015).

The reason for the legislation was so victims could have a voice during the proceedings. The judicial systems also felt that the victims were not being adequately accounted for by the courts. Victims felt as if their own personal experience of the crime was being brushed aside. Victims felt as though the sentence of the defendant was not proportional to the crime they committed leaving victims feeling ignored. The Victim impact statement was also introduced to help victims with trauma and gain closure to the crime committed against them (victimsofcrime.gov.au,