Okuzeka
Criminal Law & Justice vocabulary · Victims' Rights

Victim impact statement

Meaning in criminal law & justice, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In criminal law & justice, victim impact statement means: A written or spoken statement in which a victim explains how a crime has affected their life, which the court can consider before sentencing.

In Turkish: mağdur etki beyanı, mağdurun suçun etkilerine ilişkin beyanı

How it is used

The American term; in England and Wales the official name is 'victim personal statement'. Victims or their families may 'read out' or 'submit' the statement in court. It describes physical, emotional and financial harm and does not usually recommend a specific sentence.

Example sentences

  1. In her victim impact statement, she said she no longer felt safe at home.

  2. The judge listened to three victim impact statements before passing sentence.

Common collocations

  • read a victim impact statement
  • submit a victim impact statement
  • victim personal statement
  • victimA person who has been harmed, injured or killed as a result of a crime, or who has lost money or property because of it.
  • sentenceThe punishment that a judge gives a person who has been found guilty; as a verb, to give someone a particular punishment.
  • complainantThe person who reports a crime and says they were harmed by it, especially in court before it has been decided whether the crime took place.
  • compensationMoney paid to a victim for injury, loss or suffering caused by a crime, either by the offender or through a state scheme.

More terms: Victims' Rights

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.