What is a Victim Impact Statement and How Is It Used?
As a crime victim, you have the opportunity to use the Victim Impact Statement (VIS) to describe how the crime affected you and others close to you. This statement has space for you to write about physical, emotional, and financial effects of the crime, as well as any other changes in your life you may have experienced. Your statement will become an official court document after it is given to the court, and will become part of the defendant’s permanent file that will follow the Defendant throughout the sentence and can often be reviewed if the Defendant would be in further trouble with the law. Your statement will be read by the Judge, attorneys, the Defendant, and anyone else that reviews the report in the future that is working with the Defendant so they will better understand the dynamics of how this crime has impacted you, your family, and/or those around you.
Do I Have to Fill Out a Victim Impact Statement?
You do not have to fill out a Victim Impact Statement. However, if you complete a statement, your statement will become an official court document after it is given to the court, and will become part of the defendant’s permanent file which will follow the Defendant throughout the sentence and can often be reviewed if the Defendant would be in further trouble with the law.
We realize it may be difficult to put into words the impact this crime has had on you and those close to you. Many victims find it helpful to organize their statement by the emotional and physical effects. Some victims find it helpful to write a rough draft of their statement before completing the final statement. Statements should not be directed toward the defendant rather to those involved in your case so they are able to understand the impact on you when making any decision with the Defendant and the case as a whole. Our office is able to assist with expressing your thoughts and putting together a victim impact statement in your own words to ensure your voice is heard.
No one knows better than you how this crime may have changed your life. Those of us involved in your case believe it’s very important that you have the opportunity to help the court understand all of the ways this crime has affected you and those near you. As a victim, you have the right to make a statement, and you also have multiple ways to provide it to the court; writing a letter, reading your statement in court, having a prosecutor read your statement in court, or submitting the statement to the Court for their review. If you would like to provide a statement in person at the sentencing hearing or plan to attend the sentencing hearing, please contact our office (812-462-3319) for an advocate to assist you and attend the court hearing with you.
Adult Probation Form
When an offender is scheduled to be sentenced to a felony that is a level 5 or higher, the Court must order a Presentence Investigation Report (PSIR) - a background report on the defendant which will follow the Defendant throughout his sentence and can often be reviewed if the Defendant would be in further trouble with the law. If there is a victim on the case, the probation officer writing the report will contact you about including a victim impact statement in the PSIR. The Defendant will not have access to your contact information if you fill out this form.
If you need more space or wish to provide information in a different way, please use as much paper as you need, and attach the pages to this form when you return it. If you would prefer to write out a letter and submit it without the form that is okay as well. A letter can be submitted to our office prior to the hearing, to Adult Probation prior to the hearing, or it can be submitted the day of the court hearing to the Court.
If you should need any assistance in completing your Victim Impact Statement, please contact Crime Victim Assistance at 812-462-3319.
As a crime victim, you have the opportunity to use the Victim Impact Statement (VIS) to describe how the crime affected you and others close to you. This statement has space for you to write about physical, emotional, and financial effects of the crime, as well as any other changes in your life you may have experienced. Your statement will become an official court document after it is given to the court, and will become part of the defendant’s permanent file that will follow the Defendant throughout the sentence and can often be reviewed if the Defendant would be in further trouble with the law. Your statement will be read by the Judge, attorneys, the Defendant, and anyone else that reviews the report in the future that is working with the Defendant so they will better understand the dynamics of how this crime has impacted you, your family, and/or those around you.
Do I Have to Fill Out a Victim Impact Statement?
You do not have to fill out a Victim Impact Statement. However, if you complete a statement, your statement will become an official court document after it is given to the court, and will become part of the defendant’s permanent file which will follow the Defendant throughout the sentence and can often be reviewed if the Defendant would be in further trouble with the law.
We realize it may be difficult to put into words the impact this crime has had on you and those close to you. Many victims find it helpful to organize their statement by the emotional and physical effects. Some victims find it helpful to write a rough draft of their statement before completing the final statement. Statements should not be directed toward the defendant rather to those involved in your case so they are able to understand the impact on you when making any decision with the Defendant and the case as a whole. Our office is able to assist with expressing your thoughts and putting together a victim impact statement in your own words to ensure your voice is heard.
No one knows better than you how this crime may have changed your life. Those of us involved in your case believe it’s very important that you have the opportunity to help the court understand all of the ways this crime has affected you and those near you. As a victim, you have the right to make a statement, and you also have multiple ways to provide it to the court; writing a letter, reading your statement in court, having a prosecutor read your statement in court, or submitting the statement to the Court for their review. If you would like to provide a statement in person at the sentencing hearing or plan to attend the sentencing hearing, please contact our office (812-462-3319) for an advocate to assist you and attend the court hearing with you.
Adult Probation Form
When an offender is scheduled to be sentenced to a felony that is a level 5 or higher, the Court must order a Presentence Investigation Report (PSIR) - a background report on the defendant which will follow the Defendant throughout his sentence and can often be reviewed if the Defendant would be in further trouble with the law. If there is a victim on the case, the probation officer writing the report will contact you about including a victim impact statement in the PSIR. The Defendant will not have access to your contact information if you fill out this form.
If you need more space or wish to provide information in a different way, please use as much paper as you need, and attach the pages to this form when you return it. If you would prefer to write out a letter and submit it without the form that is okay as well. A letter can be submitted to our office prior to the hearing, to Adult Probation prior to the hearing, or it can be submitted the day of the court hearing to the Court.
If you should need any assistance in completing your Victim Impact Statement, please contact Crime Victim Assistance at 812-462-3319.