THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN COURT PROCEEDINGS RELATED TO THE OFFENSE
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1. Unless excluded as a material witness, victims have the right to remain in the courtroom during a criminal trial or proceeding.

2. The Victim-Witness Assistance Program can provide you with a Victim Impact Statement, to be presented to the Court before sentencing, and assist you in its completion. Contact your local Victim-Witness Assistance Program for a VIS and helpful hints to assist you in filling it out.

The VIS allows victims of crime to tell the court and the offender how the crime has affected their lives. It is a written statement of the economic, physical, and psychological impact the victim has experienced as a result of the crime in question. It is completed prior to the sentencing of a defendant and may provide information to any individual or agency charged with investigating the social history of the defendant.

A VIS may be considered by the court in determining the appropriate sentence for the crime. A copy of the prepared statement is made available to the defendant or counsel for the defendant at least five days prior to the sentencing.

The VIS will be kept confidential and sealed upon entry of the sentencing order.

While it does offer the victim a forum to discuss the effect of the crime on his or her life, the VIS, it is important to remember that this is not the place to express anger, use profanity, or make specific requests regarding the defendant’s sentence. The Victim-Witness Assistance Program can provide you with a "helpful hints" sheet to assist you in determining what is appropriate information to include in your statement.