Create and view your Victim Impact Statements

VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT PURPOSE AND IMPORTANCE

This Victim Impact Statement (VIS) will be used throughout the criminal justice system (by the prosecutor, the judge, and the parole board) to better understand the emotional/psychological, physical, and financial impact of the crime.

The contact information you provide in this Victim Impact Statement is important and will be used to contact you if you wish to receive case information from:

• Community Supervision and Corrections Department (probation);
• Texas Department of Criminal Justice (prison); and
• Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT IS USED THROUGHOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS

1. CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS: You have crime victim rights if you are a:
   • Victim,
   • Parent/Guardian of a minor victim, or
   • Close relative of a deceased victim.
2. CONFIDENTIAL VICTIM CONTACT INFORMATION PAGE IS USED:
   • By criminal justice professionals to contact you throughout the process.
   • To elect and exercise your right to be notified of court proceedings, probation, parole, release, and/or discharge.
   • By the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to register adults who request notification from the TDCJ Victim Services Division, Integrated Victim Services System (IVSS), regarding the status of the offender while he/she is incarcerated in the TDCJ Correctional Institutions Division (prison) or on parole supervision.
   • By law, the Confidential Victim Contact Information page cannot be seen by the defendant or the defense attorney. To make sure you are kept informed, you must notify the following departments, as applicable, if any of your contact information changes:
   • Victim Assistance Coordinator (see previous page for contact information) during the trial/prosecution phase;
   • Adult Probation: The county’s community supervision and corrections department. Contact information for all CSCDs are located here: https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/documents/CSCD_directory.pdf if defendant is sentenced to community supervision
   • TDCJ Victim Services Division 800-848-4284 or victim.svc@tdcj.texas.gov if defendant is convicted and sentenced to prison.
3. VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT FORM: Victims have the right to submit a Victim Impact Statement. The Victim Impact Statement is a written, detailed account of the emotional/psychological, physical, and financial impact of the crime on the victim(s) and/or family members. This document can be used to explain your feelings such as loss, frustration, fear, and/or anger, as well as any physical or monetary damages due to the crime. Only you can provide this vital information.

• • Considers your Victim Impact Statement before entering into a plea bargain agreement.
  • Considers your Victim Impact Statement to assist with determining the restitution amount to request (if applicable).

• • Considers your Victim Impact Statement before imposing a sentence; the Victim Impact Statement is not considered by a jury.
  • Considers your Victim Impact Statement before a plea bargain agreement is accepted.
  • Considers your Victim Impact Statement to determine the restitution amount (if applicable).

• • May request to review your Victim Impact Statement, excluding the Confidential Victim Contact Information page
  • In certain circumstances, the defense attorney, with court approval, can introduce testimony or other information alleging a factual inaccuracy in the statement.

• • Considers your Victim Impact Statement for notification purposes.

• • Uses your Victim Impact Statement to provide notification and information regarding the defendant, if he or she is sentenced to prison.
  • Adults can register for this service by completing the Confidential Victim Contact Information page, which is a part of the attached Victim Impact Statement.
  • Victims can also use the form to indicate their preference for the TDCJ to prohibit the defendant from contacting them.

• • A parole panel will consider your Victim Impact Statement prior to voting whether or not to release the inmate to parole supervision.
  • Considers the Victim Impact Statement when executive clemency petitions are received, including pardon request and death penalty cases.

Create and view your Victim Impact Statements