Informational
Victim Impact Statements
Last Updated
July 6, 2026
Last Reviewed
July 6, 2026
Owner
King County, WA
Topic
Legal
Safety Planning
Category
Victim Support
Audience
Advocates ,
Appropriate for survivors ,
Prosecutors
Summary
A victim impact statement is testimony, written or spoken, from a victim, entity, or business.
During sentencing, it describes how the crime harmed them in 1 or more ways including:
- Physically
- Psychologically
- Emotionally
- Financially
When determining an offender’s sentence, the court considers the victim impact statement and statements from both the prosecution and the defense.