Victim impact statements

Victim impact statements
R

reality2k4

Registrant
Firstly, I would like to say to anybody who is considering or waiting on a Court case to write a journal of events they consider impacting on their lives.

I wrote one in Word, and got 14 pages out of it, and that was just a tiny bit, but I encompassed every loss and hurt that came from abuse.

Judges have a duty to look at these statements in coming to their judgement.
They have to take into account the trauma that the victim has had to go through, along with their families and friends.

Just a thought,

ste
 
Ste,

That's a great idea, and I am keeping a log something like that anyway. Not for legal purposes, just to keep things straight in my own mind.

Much love,
Larry
 
Thank god that judges are now taking Victim Impact Statements on board now, they have certainly taken their time about it.

Kirk
"Lets grab this bull by the horns and swing it about a bit"
 
they let me get up and read my victim impact statement out loud in the court. the jury asked to stay and come back in for the sentencing and they wanted to hear what i had to say. so when i got up to read it the rest of my foster family stood up and walked right out of court. was supposed to mean something like insult me or something but i didnt care. i read it and looked right at my foster parents while i did. foster dad was getting more and more mad and i even said, thats what i was afraid of and i pointed at him andn he was red hot and shaking mad. so they could see how mad he got how scary it was. i was scared to read it but im glad i did.
 
Judges and authority are pretty green on the issues facing the victim in daily life.
How could they ever imagine the impact it has, without having a statement like this.

BD, I think it is wrong that you had to read it in Court, because I thought it was just for the judge, not the jury, but glad you found the strength to do it.

Its a big step in the right direction,

ste
 
Following my recent experiences in court, I would advise anyone to make a Victim Impact Statement.

My original statement of complaint against the pervert, was so extensive, regarding the grooming and abuse process, that it was considered I didn't need to add anything about the impact it had on my current life.

No one expected the perv to plead guilty, so everything was expected to be highlighted in court.

The perv threw a spanner in the works by pleading guilty on the first day (only because he was under mounting pressure as the judge was going to allow a third witnesses evidence to be used. Initialliy it was just mine, then 2 of us).

When we went back to court, the perv tried to withdraw his plea. This led to a third appearance in court, where the plea change was thrown out. On the 4th appearance in court, he was sentenced.

Because all of the evidence had not been read out in court, I believe that the sentence was lightere. Had I written an extensive Impact Statement, they might have shot the bastard (some hope).

It was painful to write the original statement of complaint. I would have willingly spent hours on a Victim Impact Statement if it had the chance of leading to real justice.

If anyone is intending to go through the court process, take as much pain as you can at the time. That will leave you with much less pain when the case is over.

I am proud of what I did, just wish he had literally been suspended (by his neck), than given a suspended sentence!

Best wishes...Rik
 
Rik,

I posted this with you and the other guys who have yet to go through this in mind.
I read a story of one judge handing down a 9yr sentence after reading one.

I wrote 14 pages, I could have wrote a book, and believe me it was one of the hardest things to write.

A statement only needs to be a couple of pages where you can state your losses against what a normal life should be.

Its hard but worth it,

ste
 
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