Victim Impact Statements MADD, Your Victim Impact Statement Booklet, (c) 2003 www.madd.org Purpose of the Victim Impact Statement To assure a balanced picture of both the offender and victim in determining the most appropriate sentence for the convicted offender. It is you chance to tell the court and the offender what your life has been like since the crime. It may be the only opportunity you will have to communicate with the offender. 1. Judges may use the financial information in statements when ordering the offender to pay restitution for all or some of the expenses related to the crime. It is important that the judge have access to as much information you can provide about how your life has been negatively impacted by the offense committed against you or your loved one. 2. The media often have an interest in crime victims. The Victim Impact Statements and the the stories they generate may help educate the public about the effects of the crime. Therefore, your public could become more sensitive to victims even if your statement does not influence the court. 3. The goal of your Victim Impact Statement is to help the judge or jury identify with your loss. Your statement helps present you as an ordinary member of the community who did not deserve to be victimized by crime. Presenting the Victim Impact Statement 1. Your Victim Impact Statement should take no more than 5 minutes of reading or listening time. 2. Courtroom attire should reflect seriousness. Clean, well-pressed clothing is expected. Women should wear a dress or skirt that is not too short and a blouse that is not designed with a low-cut neckline. Men should wear long pants and a solid color shirt. Soft colors are more effective than vivid colors. Avoid jewelry that could detract from your face. Hair should be clean. Men should be clean-shaven. Your goal is to have the members of the court focus on your face, not your attire. 3. If you choose to audiotape or videotape your Victim Impact Statement, be aware that it will be less effective than your physical presence in the courtroom. Community Victim Impact Statements 1. Communities and neighborhood, as well as individuals, can be victims of crime. A known drunk driver with a reputation for unsafe driving can frighten an entire neighborhood. 2. According to the United States Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, benefits of Community or Neighborhood Victim Impact Statements include: Obtaining information from the neighborhood about the impact of drunk driving on the community, providing valuable information to the court. Providing information to the community about incarceration of drunk drivers, increasing awareness of law enforcement efforts. Encouraging community residents to become involved because they recognize that what they do makes a difference. 3. A Community Victim Impact Statement can be prepared several ways. Citizens can come together to draft a statement; individuals can write statements that can be edited and combined into one statement signed by all; or many residents can write short impact statements that are stapled together and presented to the court as a packet. Tips to Remember 1. Prepare early to avoid the stress of last minute writing. 2. Focus on what the crime means to your physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually. 3. Write and speak from the heart about your pain. 4. Don't present evidence presented in the trial. 5. The statement should take no longer than 5 minutes to read. Shorter and impurely is always more powerful. 6. A legible, handwritten statement is acceptable. 7. Consider including a photograph as part of your statement. 8. Submit your statement as early as possible after the verdict, while the case is fresh in the judge's mind. 9. Put the defendant's name at the top of the statement so that it is processed appropriately. 10. Keep a photocopy of your statement, so you can refer to it later.