(Answered) : Victim Impact Evidence 1

Question Description

Introduction

Victims’ rights have grown tremendously over time. Victim impact statements are now widely accepted and may take the form of written documents as part of the probation department’s presentence report furnished to the court. These statements allow a victim or the family of a victim to describe their loss, suffering, and trauma experienced from the crime. Many jurisdictions also allow for oral allocution which is the right to make a statement in open court prior to the court imposing sentence. The impact of these statements on courts, however, is questionable.

Although generally acceptable, there are due process limits to