Traditionally, criminal trials focused on the accused and the State. The victim’s voice was often limited to giving evidence. Victim impact statements are an effort to correct that imbalance, especially at the sentencing stage.

These statements allow victims or their families to tell the court how the crime affected their life: physical injuries, mental trauma, financial loss, fear, broken relationships, and long-term consequences. The judge can then better understand the human cost beyond dry facts.

Such statements can be written, oral, or sometimes even presented through counsellors. They don’t mean that punishment will always be harsher, but they help make sentencing more informed and transparent. Occasionally, they may also guide appropriate restitution or compensation orders.

At the same time, courts must be careful. Sentencing should not become a purely emotional exercise. The judge has to balance victim suffering with legal principles, proportionality, and any mitigating factors about the offender.

Used properly, victim impact statements can make the system feel less robotic and more humane, without turning it into a revenge mechanism.