Have Your Say

As a victim or someone impacted by violence, your voice is crucial. Share your story and speak out against violence in our community.

Prepare Your Statement

Victim Impact Statement

If you have decided to prepare a Victim Impact Statement, you will want to give it a substantial thought before presenting your final product. Whether presented in a written or oral form, you probably will want to tell the court much more than court time will allow. But begin by writing everything that comes to mind. You can come back later and choose the most important parts. Your work is to tell the court how the facts of the case affect you now. 

The following are a few suggestions about preparing Victim Impact Statements:

Do:  

  • Write simply and descriptively. Your goal is to help the court feel your loss. While no one can understand exactly what you are feeling, you can help others identify with your loss by using words that evoke feeling. Your words will help others in the court understand your experience.

For example, which of the following statements give you more understanding?  

  1. Every morning when I wake up, I think about my daughter. 
  2. Every morning when I wake up, I remember that (name of daughter) will not be in her chair at the breakfast table and that I no longer will need to buy Fruit Loops, her favorite cereal. My heart skips a beat every time I pass the Fruit Loops in the grocery store and I say a quick prayer that she doesn’t miss me as much as I miss her. 

The second sentence goes beyond sentiment to convey a word picture. It will be more effective in an attempt to invoke understanding by members of the court.  

  • Write in short sentences and short paragraphs. Leave space between paragraphs.
  • Ask someone to check your draft for spelling and grammar before you write your final statement. An advocate or family member can always read your statement for you if you feel you might not be able to get the words out.

Try not to…  

  • Vent your anger toward the court or the offender. Your goal is to express your hurt and your pain, not to blame. Assessing blame is the court’s job. You must always show respect to the court. Unsuitable language will diminish the effectiveness of your statement.
  • Describe what you want to happen to the offender while in prison. If your state law allows you to express your wishes for the sentence, do so – but don’t get descriptive about harm you wish imposed.
  • Ask for a confession from the offender. The offender’s attorneys will advise their client not to confess to the crime, even if they are found guilty. If you have an interest in meeting with the offender, it may be possible to arrange a meeting at a later time.
  • Write anything that is not true. In most states, the defendant, through his or her attorney, can question or object to statements not believed to be factual. In a few states, the defense attorney can cross-examine the victim about what has been said in the statement. Ask your victim assistance provider if this is allowed in your state(it is in Alaska). 

As you consider how the crime has changed your life, you may use the following questions to guide you. Remembering and writing about something so painful may be difficult for you. Pace yourself and don’t feel that you have to complete your draft in one sitting. Be gentle with yourself and take as many breaks as you need.

  • Write a couple of sentences about how difficult it is to prepare this statement and why.  
  • If your loved one was killed: how has this affected you physically? Do you experience more frequent headaches? Have you gained or lost significant weight? Have you developed stress-related illnesses since the death? Have you visited a doctor more frequently? Do you experience pain that you did not suffer before the death? Would you like to speak on the behalf of any other family members? Children your loved one may have had.
  • If your loved one had young children: Feel free to speak on their behalf. How have they been emotionally impacted by this crime? Have the children regressed developmentally as a result of this crime? How has their school performance changed? How has their relationship with family members and friends changed? Have they required counseling? If so, how has it helped? If not, why not? Did they have to move and how has that transition been for them?
  • Emotional Impact: How do you feel emotionally when you wake up in the morning? What do you think about? How often do you cry? Describe the last time you cried. What do you think about when you go to bed at night? How difficult is it for you to sleep? How long do you sleep? Do you have nightmares? About how much of every day do you feel sad? Do you feel more tired than you did before the crime? Have you been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or any other stress-related illness since the crime? Are you on any medications for those conditions? Have you considered suicide since the crime? Have you had difficulties with relationships since the crime? How has it affected your family life? Has your view of the world as a safe and fair place changed since the crime? Has your spirituality changed since the crime? Describe your loved one for the court. Paint a picture of what he was like when he was alive.  

Tips to Remember:

  • Prepare early to avoid the stress of last minute writing after the conviction.
  • Focus on what the crime means to you physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually.
  • Write and speak from the heart about your pain.
  • Don’t repeat evidence presented in the trial.
  • Ideally, the statement should take no longer than 10 minutes to read. Shorter and simpler is usually more powerful.
  • A legible, hand-written statement is acceptable.
  • Consider including a photograph as part of your statement.