![]() Questions to Ask Before Writing a Victim Impact StatementĪdvocates suggest domestic violence survivors or support persons ask themselves the following questions before beginning to write a victim impact statement. “Many court professionals fail to realize this, and that’s a piece of context to definitely include,” says Goldstein. “In the case of domestic violence,” he says, “It can be dangerous to read it in front of an abuser, but sometimes, they do want the abuser to know what they did.” While many people could know an abuser from the persona they display in public, it may be very different from how he acted behind closed doors. It can be a factor in determining a defendant’s sentence,” explains Goldstein. “ victim’s rights movement this was one of the things that was implemented. They grow into strong women that return to destroy your world." How to Write a Strong Victim Impact Statementįormer attorney and current domestic violence advocate Barry Goldstein says victim impact statements can be a powerful tool to make a survivor heard. Perhaps you have figured it out by now, but little girls don't stay little forever. "You used my body for six years for your own sexual gratification. She read her powerful statement to Nassar directly. Kyle Stephens was only 6 years old when Nassar began to abuse her. ![]() One by one, these survivors bravely faced the court and Nassar himself to share how his actions had affected their lives. An astounding 204 women stood up at his trial to read victim impact statements aloud. We saw a powerful example of this in the 2018 trial of Larry Nassar, the former team doctor for the USA Gymnastics team who sexually abused at least 265 girls and women over the span of his career. ![]() Victim impact statements can also be the first time a survivor or their loved ones may address the perpetrator directly if they feel comfortable doing so. The impact statement can be the first time the judge hears the victim’s side in their own words, or through the words of a loved one. Though not required, they are a right that victims can exercise if they so choose to. ![]() They are given to a judge often at or before the sentencing of a defendant. Not only relegated to domestic violence crimes, victim impact statements can be submitted by the victim of any offense. A victim impact statement is a written account of how a victim, their family members or friends have been impacted by the actions of a perpetrator. ![]()
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