Quote:
Originally Posted by MBates
It is not completely uncommon for victim impact statements to cross lines. And a respectful application to edit them is exactly how you proceed. The same thing happens sometimes in court-ordered pre-sentence reports. It is completely understandable for a victim to lash out at the convicted person (especially in a homicide) or attack the system or even say things that themselves would be criminal. But there is a very good reason not to allow that type of stuff to become formally part of a sentencing proceeding.
In fact, in at least half of the times I have dealt with it, the prosecutor or the court was the one suggesting the edits.
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I imagine that this likely stems from the victim not really knowing what the victim impact statement is for. I wouldn't, either. I'd just write what I was thinking/feeling at the time and what it'd made me think/feel since then, and honestly...probably wouldn't be very good for 'public' consumption anyhow.