What is a major goal of victim impact statements within the justice system?

The major goal of victim impact statements within the justice system is to inform the court of the consequences of the crime on the victim. These statements allow victims or their families to convey how the crime has affected their lives emotionally, financially, and socially. This insight is crucial as it helps the judge when determining sentences or other outcomes in the case. By presenting a personal narrative of the impact, the victim's statement adds depth to the understanding of the crime's effects beyond just the legal facts.

Victim impact statements serve to humanize the statistics associated with crime, emphasizing the real-life repercussions that laws, prison sentences, and other judicial decisions have on individuals and communities. This is distinct from merely providing testimony or summarizing case facts, as it specifically focuses on the victim's experience and the broader implications of the crime.