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1. How can your Victim Impact Statement help you?

Those who have submitted a Victim Impact Statement feel that completing it was beneficial to them. While they may never know the exact impact of their words, they found strength in knowing that whatever the decision was, it was made by someone who was informed about how the crime affected its victims and survivors.

Victims and survivors who have completed the Victim Impact Statement felt it gave them a greater opportunity to participate in the criminal justice process.

2. Who can provide a Victim Impact Statement?

Texas law allows victims of sexual assault, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, trafficking of persons, injury to a child, elderly individual or disabled individual, or victims who have suffered personal injury as a result of the criminal conduct of another to submit a Victim Impact Statement. Close relatives of deceased victims and guardians of victims also can exercise this right.

After the defendant has been indicted, the Victim Assistance Coordinator (VAC) in the prosecutor’s office has the responsibility to provide a Victim Impact Statement form to victims and survivors. After you complete the Victim Impact Statement, return it to the Victim Assistance Coordinator. He or she will send it to criminal justice professionals for consideration in making decisions about the defendant. Note: The Victim Impact Statement is not a legal document; it is not an affidavit and does not need to be notarized.