Victims of Crime Research Series
Summary Report on Victim Impact Statement Focus Groups
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Summary of Findings
- 2.1 How Participants First Became Aware of Victim Impact Statements
- 2.2 Time Available to Complete Victim Impact Statements
- 2.3 Encouragement Provided to Complete Victim Impact Statements
- 2.4 Perceptions of what Victim Impact Statements are Supposed to do
- 2.5 Clarity and Completeness of Information Provided to Victims about Completion and use of their Statements
- 2.6 Information Which Participants Were Not Permitted to Include in Their Statements
- 2.7 Privacy or Safety Concerns Related to Completing the Victim Impact Statements
- 2.8 Knowledge of What Happens to Statements Once they are Completed
- 2.9 Changes Made to Victim Impact Statements Following Submission
- 2.10 Knowledge of Whether the Judge Received their Statements
- 2.11 Access by the Accused to Completed Victim Impact Statements
- 2.12 Being Questioned by Defence Counsel on the Contents of Victim Impact Statements
- 2.13 Reading Statements Aloud
- 2.14 Reference to the VIS by the Judge
- 2.15 General Reactions to the Experience
- 2.16 Other Comments
- 3. Overview and Recommendations
- Appendix A: Moderator’s Guide for Victim Impact Statement Focus Groups
- Appendix B: Findings of Focus Groups on Victim Impact Statements Held in Six Sites
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