victim personal statement

victim personal statement

information given to a criminal court when it is considering sentence as to the views of the victim. Such statements are contrary to the basic principle for criminal justice, which is the state's response to the offender. They are not used in Scotland but, subject to guidance, are in use in England and Wales. The guidance there requires the statement to be in proper form, and great caution is to be exercised where the defence cannot check out what is in the statement. On the other hand, it can be used to help the offender, for example where sentencing the offender would distress the victim.