Victim impact statements are statements made to the court when an offender is sentenced, to tell the court how this crime has impacted you. Giving a victim impact statement is one of the constitutional rights afforded to victims of crime in Ohio. Please check with your local victim advocate or prosecutor to determine if there is a specific format preferred in that local court. Continue reading for a few ideas to help you get started.

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Prompts to use for Victim Impact Statements

Adult

• Describe what happened to you.
• How has this crime affected you?
  • Emotionally
  • Physically
  • With friends and family
  • Spiritually
  • At your place of employment
• Do you have long-term injuries (either emotionally or physically)
• Are you requesting restitution?
• How would you like the Judge to sentence the offender?
• Is there anything else you think is important for the Judge to take into consideration?

Adolescent/Teenage

• What is your name?
• What grade are you in?
• How do you feel about what ___ did?
• Has anything changed since this happened to you with family, friends, school, or other people or places?
• Were you hurt, and do you still have problems because you were hurt? (Physically and emotionally)
• What else do you think the judge should know?
• What sentence should the person who did this to you receive?

School Age

• What is your name?
• What grade are you in?
• Tell the Judge how you feel about what has happened to you.
  • You can draw a picture, tell a story, or write a poem or a message.
• Some things you might want to tell the judge about:
  • Your feelings (happy, sad, scared, angry, or something else)
  • If you were hurt or had pain
  • What are your worries?
• What would you like the Judge to do to the person who did this? You could ask about the person going to jail, paying money or a fine, getting some help from a doctor, staying away from you, having someone watch the person to make sure they do not hurt anyone else, or anything else you think is important for the judge to know.

Young Children

Parents – if your child is too young or unable to read their statement, feel free to read it aloud. It is very important that the child be able to express their own feelings, not those of their family or others. Please explain that this letter will help the Judge to decide what to do and that they are not in trouble, nor are there any right or wrong feelings. If a victim advocate is involved in your case, they may be able to assist you or your child in understanding the victim impact statement.

Children – it is ok if your parents help you write your feelings!

• What is your name?
• How old are you?
• Are you in school? What grade are you in?
• How do you feel about what happened to you? You can circle as many as you like:

• If you were the Judge, what would you do to the person who did this? Circle as many as you like:
  • Go to jail
  • Pay some money
  • Go to a doctor to get some help
  • Stay away from me or other kids
  • Nothing
  • Other (Put your idea here!)