Victim impact statements
13 Victim impact statements
A victim of a criminal offence may make a victim impact statement to the court sentencing the person found guilty of the offence, and unless the court orders otherwise, that statement may be considered by the court in determining the sentence of the offender.
Note to s. 13(1) amended by No. 65/2011 s. 107(Sch. item 15).
Note
See Division 1C of Part 3 of the Sentencing Act 1991 in relation to victim impact statements.
S. 13(1A) inserted by No. 1/2022 s. 117A.
The prosecuting agency must inform the victim, as soon as reasonably practicable after commencing to deal with that victim, of the victim's entitlement under subsection (1) to make a victim impact statement.
S. 13(2) substituted by No. 42/2018 s. 11.
If a victim expresses a wish to make a victim impact statement, a prosecuting agency is to—
refer the victim to an appropriate victims' services agency for assistance in preparing the victim impact statement; and
give the victim general information about the types of material in a victim impact statement that the court may rule inadmissible and the consequences that may occur from that ruling.
S. 13(3) inserted by No. 42/2018 s. 11.
Despite subsection (2)(b), the prosecuting agency does not have a duty to advise the victim of the admissibility of a particular victim impact statement.
S. 14 amended by Nos 60/2014 s. 140(Sch. 3 item 49.1), 32/2024 s. 850.
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