victim impact statement packet texas

8/19/2019 Victim Impact Statement Packet Texas

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/victim-impact-statement-packet-texas 1/7

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,andfinancialimpactof thecrime.

The

contact

information

you

provide

in

this

Victim

Impact

Statement

is

important

and

will

be

used

to

contact

you

if

you

wish

to

receive

information

from:

Community

Supervision

and

Corrections

Department

(probation);

Texas

Department

of

Criminal

Justice

(prison);

and

Board

of

Pardons

and

Paroles.

Returnthe

Confidential

Victim

Contact

Information

and

the

VictimImpactStatementtothe

countyordistrictattorney’soffice

thatisprosecutingyourcase.

TO

BE

COMPLETED

BY

THE

VICTIM

ASSISTANCE

COORDINATOR

VictimAssistanceCoordinator:

Agency:

Address:

City:

Zip

Code:

Phone: Fax:

E‐mail:

REMOVE AND KEEP FOR YOUR RECORDS



CRIMEVICTIMINFORMATIONSHEETANDVICTIMIMPACTSTATEMENTPACKET

ATENCIÓN:Si Ud.requiereasistenciaenespañol otiene preguntassobreestedocumento, favor dellamar al ______________________________.

KNOW

YOUR

RIGHTS

IN

THE

CRIMINAL

JUSTICE

SYSTEM

1. CRIMEVICTIMS’RIGHTS: Youhavecrimevictimrightsif youarea: Victim, Parent/Guardianof avictim,or Closerelativeof adeceasedvictim

2. CONFIDENTIALINFORMATIONSHEET: Usedbycriminal justiceprofessionalstocontactyouthroughouttheprocess.

Used

to

elect

and

exercise

your

rights

to

notification

of

court

proceedings,

probation,

parole,

and

release.

UsedbytheTexasDepartmentof CriminalJustice(TDCJ)toaddyoutotheirdatabaseif yourequesttoreceivenotificationof changesinthedefendant’sstatusif heorsheisincarceratedinaTDCJfacility(prison).

TheConfidential InformationSheet cannot beseenby thedefendant or thedefenseattorney.

You

must

notify

your

Victim

Assistance

Coordinator

if

any

of

your

contact

information

changes

to

make

sureyouarekeptinformed.If thedefendantisconvictedandsenttoaTDCJfacility,notifytheTDCJVictimServices

Divisionof anynewcontactinformationat1‐800‐848‐[email protected].

3. VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT: Victims have the right to submit a Victim Impact Statement. The Victim ImpactStatement

is

a

written,

detailed

account

of

the

emotional/psychological,

physical,

and

financial

impact

the

crime

hadonthevictimsandfamilymembers.Thisdocumentcanbeusedtoexplainyourfeelingssuchas loss,frustrationfear,

and/or

anger.

Only

you

can

provide

this

vital

information.

KNOWHOWYOURVICTIMIMPACTSTATEMENTISUSED

Prosecutor:

ConsidersyourVictimImpactStatementbeforeenteringintoapleaarrangement.

Considers

your

Victim

Impact

Statement

to

determine

the

restitution

amount

(if

requested).

Judge:

Considers

your

Victim

Impact

Statement

before

imposing

a

sentence;

the

Victim

Impact

Statement

is

not

considered

by

a

jury.

ConsidersyourVictimImpactStatementbeforeacceptingtheplea.

Defense:

YourVictim ImpactStatement,excluding theConfidential InformationSheet ,maybeseenby thedefendant

andhisorherattorney.

ThedefendantorhisorherattorneymaycommentontheVictimImpactStatementand,withapprovalof the

court,introduceevidenceortestimonyinregardstoitsaccuracy.

Community

Supervision

(Probation):

CommunitySupervisionofficershaveaccesstoyourVictimImpactStatementfornotificationpurposes.

TexasDepartmentof CriminalJustice:

If thedefendantissentencedtoprison,yourVictimImpactStatementgoestotheTDCJVictimServicesDivision

toprovideyouwith informationregardingthedefendant.Youcanregister forthisservicebycompletingthe

“ConfidentialInformationSheet,”whichisapartof theattachedVictimImpactStatement.

Boardof PardonsandParoles:

The

Parole

Board

will

consider

your

Victim

Impact

Statement

prior

to

voting

whether

or

not

to

release

the

offendertoparolesupervision.


mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



Article56.01 –DEFINITIONS

(1)“Close relativeof adeceasedvictim”meansapersonwho

wasthespouseof adeceasedvictimatthetimeof thevictim’s

deathorwhoisaparentoradultbrother,sister,orchildof the

deceased

victim.

(2) “Guardian of victim” means a person who is the legal

guardian of the victim, whether or not the legal relationship

betweentheguardianandthevictimexistsbecauseof theage

of the victim or the physical or mental incompetency of the

victim.

(2‐a) “Sexualassault”means anoffenseunderSection 21.02,

21.11(a)(1),22.011,or22.021,PenalCode.

(3)“Victim”meansapersonwhoisthevictimof theoffenseof

sexual assault, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, trafficking of

persons, or injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled

individual or who has suffered personal injury or death as a

result

of

the

criminal

conduct

of

another.

Article56.02 ‐ CRIMEVICTIMS’RIGHTS

(a) Avictim,guardianof avictim,orcloserelativeof adeceased

victim is entitled to the following rights within the criminal

justicesystem:

(1) the right to receive from law enforcement agencies

adequateprotectionfromharmandthreatsof harmarising

fromcooperationwithprosecutionefforts;

(2) the righttohavethemagistratetakethesafetyof the

victimorhisfamilyintoconsiderationasanelementinfixing

theamountof bailfortheaccused;

(3)

the

right,

if

requested,

to

be

informed:

(A) bytheattorneyrepresentingthestateof relevant

court proceedings, including appellate proceedings,

and to be informed if those proceedings have been

canceledorrescheduledpriortotheevent;and

(B) by an appellate court of decisions of the court,

after the decisions are entered but before the

decisionsaremadepublic;

(4) the right tobe informed,when requested,byapeace

officer concerning the defendant's right to bail and the

procedures in criminal investigations and by the district

attorney'sofficeconcerning thegeneralprocedures in the

criminal

justice

system,

including

general

procedures

in

guiltypleanegotiationsandarrangements,restitution,and

theappealsandparoleprocess;

(5) therighttoprovidepertinentinformationtoaprobation

department conducting a presentencing investigation

concerningthe impactof theoffenseonthevictimandhis

family by testimony, written statement, or any other

mannerpriortoanysentencingof theoffender;

(6) therighttoreceiveinformationregardingcompensation

tovictimsof crimeasprovidedbySubchapterB,including

informationrelatedtothecoststhatmaybecompensated

under that subchapter and the amount of compensation

eligibilityforcompensation,andproceduresforapplication

for

compensation

under

that

subchapter,

the

payment

for

amedical examinationunderArticle 56.06 for a victimof a

sexualassault,andwhenrequested,toreferraltoavailable

socialserviceagenciesthatmayofferadditionalassistance;

(7) the right to be informed, upon request, of parole

procedures, to participate in the parole process, to be

notified, if requested, of parole proceedings concerning a

defendant in thevictim's case, toprovide to theBoardo

Pardons and Paroles for inclusion in the defendant's file

information to be considered by the board prior to the

paroleof anydefendantconvictedof anycrimesubjectto

this subchapter, and to be notified, if requested, of the

defendant's

release;

(8) therighttobeprovidedwithawaitingarea,separateo

secure from other witnesses, including the offender and

relativesof theoffender,beforetestifyinginanyproceeding

concerning theoffender; if a separatewaiting area isno

available,othersafeguardsshouldbetakentominimizethe

victim's contact with the offender and the offender'

relatives and witnesses, before and during cour

proceedings;

(9) therighttopromptreturnof anypropertyof thevictim

thatisheldbyalawenforcementagencyortheattorneyfo

the state as evidence when the property is no longe

requiredforthatpurpose;

(10)

the

right

to

have

the

attorney

for

the

state

notify

theemployerof thevictim,if requested,of thenecessityof the

victim's cooperation and testimony in a proceeding tha

may necessitate the absence of the victim from work fo

goodcause;

(11) the right to request victim‐offender mediation

coordinated by the victim services division of the Texas

Departmentof CriminalJustice;

(12)therighttobeinformedof theusesof avictimimpact

statement and the statement's purpose in the crimina

justice system, to complete the victim impact statement

andtohavethevictimimpactstatementconsidered:

(A)

by

the

attorney

representing

the

state

and

the judge before sentencing or before a plea bargain

agreementisaccepted;and

(B) by the Board of Pardons and Paroles before an

inmateisreleasedonparole;

(13)for a victim of an assault or sexual assault who is

youngerthan17yearsof ageorwhosecaseinvolvesfamily

violence, as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code, the

righttohavethecourtconsidertheimpactonthevictimof

acontinuancerequestedbythedefendant;if requestedby




the attorney representing the stateorby counsel for the

defendant,thecourtshallstateontherecordthereasonfor

grantingordenyingthecontinuance;and

(16)if theoffenseisacapitalfelony,therightto:

(A)

receive

by

mail

from

the

court

a

written

explanationof defense‐initiatedvictimoutreach if the

court has authorized expenditures for a defense‐

initiatedvictimoutreachspecialist;

(B)notbecontactedbythevictimoutreachspecialist

unlessthevictim,guardian,orrelativehasconsented

to the contact by providing a written notice to the

court;and

(C) designate a victim service provider to receive all

communications from a victim outreach specialist

actingonbehalf of anyperson.

(b)Avictim,guardianof avictim,orcloserelativeof adeceased

victim isentitled to the right tobepresentatallpubliccourt

proceedings

related

to

the

offense,

subject

to

the

approval

of

the judgeinthecase.

(c) Theofficeof theattorney representing the state,and the

sheriff,police,andotherlawenforcementagenciesshallensure

totheextentpracticablethatavictim,guardianof avictim,or

closerelativeof adeceasedvictimisaffordedtherightsgranted

by this article and Article 56.021 and, on request, an

explanationof thoserights.

(d) A judge, attorney for the state, peace officer, or law

enforcement agency is not liable for a failure or inability to

providearightenumeratedinthisarticleorArticle56.021. The

failureor inabilityof anyperson toprovidea rightor service

enumerated

in

this

article

or

Article

56.021

may

not

be

used

by

adefendantinacriminalcaseasagroundforappeal,aground

tosetasidetheconvictionorsentence,oragroundinahabeas

corpuspetition. Avictim,guardianof avictim,orcloserelative

of adeceasedvictimdoesnothavestandingtoparticipateasa

party inacriminalproceedingortocontestthedispositionof

anycharge.

Note: During the 83rd Legislative Session,multiple bills were

passed which resulted in the current numbering of the

subsections. Therefore, the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article56.02(a)(14‐15) currently donot exist.

Art.

56.021 ‐ RIGHTS

OF

VICTIM

OF

SEXUAL

ASSAULT

(a) InadditiontotherightsenumeratedinArticle56.02,if the

offense isasexualassault,thevictim,guardianof avictim,or

close relativeof adeceasedvictim isentitled tothe following

rightswithinthecriminal justicesystem:

(1) if requested,therighttoadisclosureof information

regarding any evidence that was collected during the

investigation of the offense, unless disclosing the

information would interfere with the investigation o

prosecutionof theoffense,inwhicheventthevictim,

guardian,

or

relative

shall

be

informed

of

the

estimated

dateonwhichthatinformationisexpectedtobedisclosed;

(2) if requested, the right to a disclosure of information

regardingthestatusof anyanalysisbeingperformedof any

evidencethatwascollectedduringthe investigationof the

offense;

(3) if requested,therighttobenotified:

(A) at the time a request is submitted to a crime

laboratory toprocess and analyze any evidence tha

wascollectedduringtheinvestigationof theoffense;

(B) at the time of the submission of a request to

compareanybiologicalevidencecollectedduring the

investigation of the offense with DNA profiles

maintained

in

a

state

or

federal

DNA

database;

and

(C) of the results of the comparison described by

Paragraph (B), unless disclosing the results would

interferewiththeinvestigationorprosecutionof the

offense,inwhicheventthevictim,guardian,orrelative

shall be informed of the estimated date on which

thoseresultsareexpectedtobedisclosed;

(4) if requested,therighttocounselingregardingacquired

immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human

immunodeficiencyvirus(HIV)infection;

(5) for the victim of the offense, testing for acquired

immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), human

immunodeficiency

virus

(HIV)

infection,

antibodies

to

HIV,

oinfectionwithanyotherprobablecausativeagentof AIDS

and

(6) totheextentprovidedbyArticles56.06and56.065,fo

the victim of the offense, the right to a forensic medica

examinationif,within96hoursof theoffense,theoffenseis

reportedtoalawenforcementagencyoraforensicmedica

examinationisotherwiseconductedatahealthcarefacility.

(b) Avictim,guardian,orrelativewhorequeststobenotified

under Subsection (a)(3) must provide a current address and

phonenumbertotheattorneyrepresentingthestateandthe

lawenforcementagencythat is investigatingtheoffense. The

victim, guardian, or relative must inform the attorney

representing

the

state

and

the

law

enforcement

agency

of

any

changeintheaddressorphonenumber.

(c) A victim, guardian, or relative may designate a person

includinganentity thatprovides services tovictimsof sexua

assault, to receive any notice requested under Subsection

(a)(3).




C

O

N

F

I

D

E

N

T

I

A

L

VICTIM CONTACT INFORMATION

CONFIDENTIAL

INFORMATION

SHEET

ThisConfidential InformationSheet will beused by criminal justice professionalstocontact youthroughout the process.Thisincludes

notifying

you

about

court

proceedings,

community

supervision

(probation),

and

parole

or

release

if

the

defendant

is

sent

to

prison.

You may choose to complete only this page for notification purposes.

ATENCIÓN:Si Ud.requiereasistenciaenespañol otiene preguntassobreestedocumento favor dellamar al ___________________.

TOBECOMPLETEDBYTHEVICTIMASSISTANCECOORDINATOR

OFFENSE: OFFENSEDATE:

DEFENDANT(S)NAME(LAST,FIRSTMI) DPSStateID(SID) DOB(mm/dd/yyyy) Cause/Case# Court# TDCJ#

SECTIONS1&2TOBECOMPLETEDBYVICTIM,PARENT/GUARDIANORCLOSERELATIVE

SECTION1.NOTIFICATION

Doyouwanttobenotifiedaboutrelevantcourtproceedings?

Doyouwanttobenotifiedif thedefendantisplacedoncommunitysupervision(probation)?

If thedefendantissenttoprison(TexasDepartmentof CriminalJustice),doyouwanttobenotifiedwhenheor

sheisbeingconsideredforparoleorrelease?

If thedefendantissenttoprison,doyouwantthedefendanttobeprohibitedfromcontactingyou?

YES

YES

YES

YES

NO

NO

NO

NO

I

M

P

O

R

T

A

N

T

!

IF YOU MOVE ORCHANGE ANY OF YOURCONTACT INFORMATION,CALLYOURVICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR

OR

THE

TEXAS

DEPARTMENT

OF

CRIMINAL

JUSTICE

VICTIM

SERVICES

DIVISION

AT

800 ‐848

‐4284.

SECTION2.CONFIDENTIALINFORMATION (Pleaseuseblackinkandprintclearly)

Victim’sName: Driver’sLicenseNo.andState:

Dateof Birth: Male Female

Nameof PersonSubmittingthisStatement: Driver’sLicenseNo.andState:

Address: Dateof Birth:

City: State: Zip:

Home

Phone:

Work

Phone:

Cell

Phone:

EmailAddress: RelationshiptoVictim:

Pleaseprovidethecontactinformationof someonenotlivingwithyouwhowillknowhowtocontactyou.

FullName:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

HomePhone: WorkPhone: CellPhone:

EmailAddress: RelationshiptoVictim:

RETURN TO YOUR

VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR



VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT

TheVictimImpact Statement (VIS)will beused throughout thecriminal justicesystemby the prosecutor,the judge,and the paroleboard tobetter understand theemotional/psychological, physical,and financial impact of thecrime.

TOBECOMPLETEDBYTHEVICTIMASSISTANCECOORDINATOR

OFFENSE: OFFENSEDATE:

DEFENDANT(s)NAME (LAST,FIRSTMI) DPSStateID(SID) DOB (mm/dd/yyyy) Cause/Case# Court# TDCJ#

Pleasegiveinformationyoubelieveisimportantabouttheeffectof thiscrimeonyouandyourfamily.

Please

do

not

relate

any

information

about

the

crime

itself;

those

facts

are

available

in

other

reports.

The information in thisstatementwill show the impactthecrimehason thevictim, theparents,guardiansorclose

relativesof thevictimorother familymembersof the victim. Itmaybeusedateachphaseof the criminal justice

process: fromtheprosecutionof theoffense;tosentencingtocommunitysupervisionortoincarcerationintheTexas

Departmentof CriminalJustice;andthroughtheparolereviewprocess.Pleaseansweronlyasmanyquestionsasyou

wish.If youneedmorespace,anadditionalpageisavailable;attachittothisVictimImpactStatement.

TOBECOMPLETEDBYTHEVICTIM,PARENT/GUARDIANORCLOSERELATIVEOFTHEVICTIM

Victim’s

Name:

EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL

IMPACT.

Use

this

section

to

discuss

your

feelings

about

what

has

happened

to

you

as

a

resultof thecrimeandhowithasaffectedyourgeneralwell‐being.Pleasecheckallthereactionsyouhaveexperienced.

Changes

in

sleep

pattern Lack

of

concentration Fear

of

strangers Loss

of

security/control

Nightmares Fear

of

being

alone Anger

Feelings

of

helplessness

Difficultytrustingothers Anxiety Crymoreeasily Fearof leavinghome

Changeinappetite Jobstress Familynotasclose Other

Depression Wanttobealone Schoolstress

Marital/Relationship

problems

Has

the

victim

or

the

victim’s

family

sought

counseling

as

a

result

of

the

crime? Yes

No

Howhasthiscrimeaffectedyou,yourfamilyorthoseclosetoyou? Pleasefeelfreetodiscussyourfeelings,thoughts,

andgeneralwell‐being.(Pleaseattachadditionalpageif used.)

RETURN TO YOUR




____________________________________________

____________________________________________ _________________________

PHYSICALINJURY.Usethissectiontodiscussanyphysical injuriessufferedasaresultof thiscrime.Youmaywantto

write

about

the

extent

of

the

injuries

and

how

long

the

injuries

lasted.

(Please

attach

additional

page

if

used.)

Treatedat ____________________________________(medicalcenter/clinic/physician’soffice)

Hospitalizedat _______________________________________for ____days

FINANCIALLOSS.

Losses

you

have

incurred

may

include

medical

and

dental

care,

emergency

transportation,

property

loss

or

damages

loss

of

income

from

work,

counseling,

crime

scene

cleanup,

moving

or

changing

residence,

funeral

costs,

and

other

costs

of thisnature.

You

may

want

to

begin

keeping

a

log

of

your

financial

loss

as

soon

as

possible

after

the

crime

occurred.

You

may

alsowant

to

keep

any

receipts

and

records

you

have

in

a

folder

or

separate

location

for

safe

keeping.

In

the

event

of

a

conviction,

the

prosecutor

or

judgemay

use

this

information

to

determine

if

any

restitution

may

be

ordered.

Pleaseprovideabestestimateof yourfinanciallosstodate: $

Doyouanticipateanyfuturecostsresultingfromthiscrime? Yes No

Wereanyexpensescoveredbyinsuranceorothersources? Yes No

HaveyouappliedforCrimeVictims’CompensationthroughtheAttorneyGeneral’sOffice? Yes No

If

you

have

not,

you

may

apply

at

www.texasattorneygeneral.gov

or

call

1‐800

‐983

‐9933.

The

information

in

this

Victim

Impact

Statement

is

true

and

correct

to

the

best

of

my

knowledge.

PrintName

Signature Date

INFORMATIONSUBMITTEDBY: Victim Parent/Guardian CloseRelative Other _________________

RETURN TO YOUR


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