Tips for making a victim impact statement

[stalkersaga]

The backstory can be found by ASing my username if you really need it. My username gives you the gist.

Would really appreciate any tips on how best to prepare to give a victim impact statement and how to make it effective.

Hi OP, just bumping this one for you in the hope that someone will be able to help.

Much obliged @ClaraMumsnet.

I just said how I felt. My solicitor helped put it in to sentences as it was very incoherent.
They used "law speak" as there was a lot of swearing on my part!

I don't have a solicitor; I'm just doing it with the police. I probably need to make some notes about all the effects financially, emotionally, on my job and my DC.

I've done one, and I started off by just making a long list of the effects that I felt were important. Then I grouped them into categories - psychological impacts, impacts on my education (I was one school at the time) etc. Then I just tackled each category one at a time, and wrote from the heart.

Once you've written it, have a sleep on it, and read with fresh eyes. It doesn't need to be a perfect essay, it just needs to be clear and tell your truth.

Also, the judge will likely decide their sentence without much reference to the victim impact statement. This is your opportunity to speak your truth to the world, but please don't feel under pressure to do one because you think it will impact the sentence.

Thanks. Yeah, I know it won't influence the sentence. I believe the precise charges are still being decided though, and so I would like to have the impact of the pattern of stalking and harassment captured.

The best way to fo an impact statement is compare your life before and after the stalking took place. Describe how your life was before and how you were emotionally eh confident, happy - then describe how your life was affected after the stalking - did you change your routine, stay home more - did you become more fearful, withdrawn for example. What were the negatives of the experience?

Write from the heart. It's a very powerful experience to hear your VIS being read out in court. Good luck