Victim Impact StatementGuidelines

forChildren and Youth

What is a victim impact statement?

A victim impact statement is a written statement describing howthe crime hurt you and how the crime made you feel.

What is the reason for a victim impact statement?

A victim impact statement is your chance to tell the judge, Crownprosecutor, defense counsel and offender, in your own words, howthe crime has or is still affecting you. The judge is required by law to consider your victim impact statement, if you provide one,before sentencing.

Do I have to write a victim impact statement?

No. Writing a victim impact statement is voluntary. That meansit is your choice whether you want to write one. No one can forceyou to write a victim statement.

Who will see my victim impact statement?

The victim impact statement is only used if the offender is foundguilty of the crime involving you. Your victim impact statementwill then be provided to the judge, Crown prosecutor and defensecounsel. It will also be shared with the offender. If the offenderis sentenced to jail, your victim impact statement will be forwardedby the court clerks to the jail where it can be used during releasehearings such as parole. The media also could report on what yousay in your victim impact statement.

Will I have to attend court when my victim impactstatement is used?

When should I write my victim impact statement?

The offender could be sentenced at any time so it is importantthat you mail your victim impact statement to the court as soon asyou can and notify Victim Services that you have sent one in.

Maybe. The defense counsel has the right to question you aboutwhat you put in your victim impact statement. This does not happenoften, but is possible. You will be told if this is to happen.

You also have the right to read your victim impact statement in court if you choose, and can read your statement with a supportperson next to you. If you want, you can draw a picture, write apoem or a letter to include in your statement if it helps youexpress the impact the crime has had on you. You can even havea picture with you that was taken before the crime. If you thinkyou might want to do this, please let Victim Services or the Crownprosecutor know.

Can someone else write my victim impact statementfor me?

In most cases the victim of a crime writes the statement.In some cases a parent or guardian will write the victim impactstatement on behalf of their child. You can speak to VictimServices if you want someone else to write the victim impactstatement for you.

How do I complete the victim impact statement?

You can have a family member, friend or someone else that you trust help you with your victim impact statement. You can alsocontact Victim Services in your area for information on how tocomplete your statement.

The Victim Impact Statement Form can be obtained from VictimServices in your community. or online through the Government ofAlberta website at the following link:https://cfr.forms.gov.ab.ca/Form/VIC10983.pdf

You can add additional pages if you need more. It can be as longor as short as you want it to be and should be in your own words.

You can draw pictures or write a poem to show how you feel.

You can write about how you have been impacted emotionally(think about how you have been feeling since the crime happened)physically (think about how you were hurt or any medical problemsyou have had since the crime), and financially (think about moneyyou may have had to pay out, or lost as a result of the crime).

Can someone help me write my victimimpact statement?

What you cannot include in your victimimpact statement?

• Do not write anything about the crime or the offender that isn‛t about how you were harmed or that was not proven in court.• Do not include what you think about the person who hurt you.• Do not write about what you think should happen to the person who hurt you unless you have the court‛s permission.• Do not include any information that you don‛t want the offender or the public to know.It can be difficult to have to think about how you have been affected by the crime. If you feel like you want to talk to someoneabout your feelings please have your parent or guardian call VictimServices for assistance. Link for Alberta Victim Service Units:http://victimservicesalberta.com/victim-service-units/