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The court will not necessarily require the offender to pay you reparation. The offender’s
financial situation will influence whether any fines or reparation can be imposed.
If the victim has died
If a victim has died as a result of the offence, their family may wish to talk about them and
the life they led, as well as the impact on those left behind.
Other information
You may include information on the impact of the crime on your family, if they agree.
A victim impact statement can include information contained in the ‘summary of facts’ of the
case. However, this should be kept brief because the court already knows what has
happened. The victim impact statement should focus on the harm you have suffered.
What information should not
be included in a victim impact statement?
A victim impact statement must not include information that is inconsistent with the purpose
of a victim impact statement.
For example, a victim impact statement must not include content that:
• you know is false – all information submitted to the court must be truthful. The
inclusion of false information could discredit the entire victim impact statement.
• makes threats against the offender or their family – threatening to harm a person is a
crime and will be dealt with accordingly.
• is abusive – comments should focus on how the offender’s actions in committing the
offence affected you, rather than your views on the offender themselves.
• is irrelevant – it is not necessary or appropriate for a victim impact statement to
contain information about things that are not relevant to the offence.
• is confidential – it is important not to divulge confidential information relating to a
victim, offender or any other person.
• refers to other offences you think the offender committed – the judge is
sentencing the offender for the crime for which he or she has been convicted. Alleged
offending cannot be considered.
• makes comments about the judge, prosecution, defence, jury or witnesses
This list is not exhaustive. It simply gives examples of content that would fall outside the
purpose of a victim impact statement.