Victim Impact Statements

The punishment phase of a trial is treated as an opportunity for a victim and the family members of a victim who have been affected by a crime to speak. Many courts also allow the family to choose a designee to speak on its behalf if the individual family members do not wish to make a statement themselves. In some states, laws do not allow victim impact statements until after the defendant's sentence has been pronounced. Others consider the victim's impact statement in determining a sentence. Victim impact statements are generally made in open court, but written statements have also been allowed.