Victim Impact Statements in South Australia (From International Victimology, P 205-216, 1996, Chris Sumner, Mark Israel, et al., eds. - See NCJ-169474)

• NCJ Number: 169495
• Author(s): E Erez; L Roeger; M O'Connell
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

This paper reports on research projects into the desirability or otherwise of victim impact statements.

Abstract

Victim impact statements (VIS) are central to the debate about the balance of rights in the criminal justice system. Research has disclosed that aggregate sentences were not increased by the introduction of VIS. Despite the findings of empirical research, support or otherwise for VIS depends heavily on one's philosophical stance or moral conviction or on a "moral/humanistic conviction about the victim's right to participate." Effective law reform requires the support of all involved organizations; legislation and government backing is not always sufficient to ensure effective implementation of reform. South Australia's implementation of VIS did not lead to any radical change in sentencing process or outcomes and the consideration of victim harm was not seen to violate established principles of sentencing. The article presents background information on VIS in South Australia and describes: (1) the South Australian model; (2) perspectives of the legal profession on implementing VIS; (3) perspectives of the police on VIS and victims; (4) the effect of VIS on victim satisfaction; and (5) the impact of VIS on sentencing patterns. Figure, references