Making a Victim (Impact) Statement
A Victim (Impact) Statement is different to the other statements we ask you for. It is also called a victim statement. This is your opportunity to tell the court how the crime has affected you:
- in your health – mental or physical
- in your finances – your money situation
If you are invited to submit a Victim (Impact) Statement, it is your choice if you do so. You do not have to give one. If you are under the age of 12, you cannot complete a Victim (Impact) Statement yourself, however, a parent or carer can complete the form on your behalf.
What goes in a Victim (Impact) Statement
Victim (Impact) Statements may include details of how a crime has affected you, including if it has led you to suffer:
- physical injuries
- changes to your mood, anxiety or confidence levels
- damage to relationships
- loss of your income, property or ability to earn
It is important for your statement to be accurate as you may be asked about it.
You should avoid:
- details about the crime – the trial will go into anything relevant
- your views about the accused person
- how the crime has affected other people, such as your children
- separate incidents and offences
- opinions on sentencing
How to submit a Victim (Impact) Statement
If it is appropriate, we will include a form with your citation letter. Complete and send it back to us by the date shown.
When Victim (Impact) Statements are used
Your Victim (Impact) Statement will be given to the court if:
- the accused pleads guilty at any stage
- the judge or jury gives a guilty verdict
The judge will see your Victim (Impact) Statement before sentencing. This means that the judge can take into account the impact that the crime has had on you. Your Victim (Impact) Statement will also be disclosed to the defence at this stage.
Your Victim (Impact) Statement will not usually be disclosed to the defence before the stage of sentence. However, in some instances there will be a duty to disclose the content - or part of the content - of your Victim (Impact) Statement to the defence at an earlier stage. For example, there may be a duty to disclose if the statement contains material information about the crime, e.g. information that strengthens the defence case, information that weakens the prosecution case or information that may be led during the trial.