Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Resources for Victim Service Providers - Victim Impact

  • document cover for Victim Impact: Listen and Learn: An Evaluation of the Effects of the Victim Impact: Listen and Learn Program on Prisoner Recidivism and Prisoner Behavior

    Victim Impact: Listen and Learn: An Evaluation of the Effects of the Victim Impact: Listen and Learn Program on Prisoner Recidivism and Prisoner Behavior

    "This is a report of the evaluation study conducted to examine the effects of the Victim Impact: Listen and Learn program on the behaviors of the prisoners who attended this program. The focus of the data we collected and reported on was on the participants’ behaviors after attending the program but while still in prison, and upon release from prison ... The central tenet of the program is that a vital component to facilitating change within an individual offender is...

  • Sample Victim Impact Statements

    This document contains three redacted sample victim impact statements that were given by victims in connection with actual criminal proceedings. National Crime Victim Law Institute, 2014.

  • Victim Impact Statements: Know Your Rights

    This brochure outlines the rights of victims concerning victim impact statements and restitution. United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Iowa

  • Victim Impact: Listen and Learn - The Case for Evidence-Based Programming

    This article from the Office for Victims of Crime: Training and Technical Assistance Center summaries the surveys and studies conducted on victim impact programs.

  • In Defense of Victim Impact Statements (2009)

    This article by Judge Paul G. Cassell defends the use of victim impact statements. He argues impact statements have received widespread support because they promote justice without interfering with any legitimate interests of criminal defendants. The statements help convey valuable information to sentencing judges and have other beneficial effects. The benefits are all obtained without unfairly prejudicing defendants in any tangible way.