I have to write a victim impact statement for my husband's officer involved shooting. I haven't been able to get much guidance from the prosecutor, and google is just confusing me further. Are they just looking for the emotional toll it took on you and your family? Or more of a statement/opinion on sentencing? Or what?
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@Sams Mom: I hope your husband is okay!!
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: he came out unscathed thankfully because the guy had a cheap crappy gun with terrible aim. It happened last year right before Thanksgiving, and we're finally getting somewhere this year right before Thanksgiving.
It changes perspective a lot. I'm not very confident in putting my emotions into words, but I also want to make sure this guy doesn't get another breath outside of the DOC, and never gets the chance to make someone else get the call that I got that morning, or worse, a knock at their door.
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@Sams Mom: what about the union/league rep?
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@2littlepumpkins: unfortunately the department he was with at the time didn't have much for that. His current department is FOP, I wonder if I could ask someone there even though he wasn't with them at the time.
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I practice in a specialized court so please take my advice with that caveat as your courts may be difference I’m also a judge and from that perspective - I’ve found most helpful for sentencing purposes is information regarding the actual impact on the family. We don’t offer actually sentence recommendations but talking about the the feelings learning of the event caused, any fear it caused or is still causing, and lasting impact is really helpful.
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@MrsJBeeG: thank you ma'am! I was afraid it would be more emotions related (mainly because talking about my feelings in a non anonymous forum stresses me out)
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Not a lawyer, but I work in the field of corrections and have read many victim impact letters. Generally they're exactly what they sound like, descriptions of the toll the crime has had on the victim and their family/career/quality of life/etc. Definitely more emotions than recommendation, but you can focus on facts too. For example, many letters talk about not feeling safe any more, lost career opportunities, hospital bills, anger at the perpetrator, and things like that. And you can feel free to say that you hope the perpetrator never takes another breath outside the DOC again!
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@Rocker2014: I have definitely included my desire that he never has a free breath outside of DOC, and that no one else should be on the receiving end of the call or visits that were made that night. I guess I just need to write all my feels down.
I guess I was hoping that I could make it all about him being a terrible person and not have to "accept" a victim title.
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@Sams Mom: You can make it about whatever you want, but it can help the people who are doing sentencing to hear from you about your side of things. Speaking up for yourself and letting others know your thoughts, wishes and experiences is not accepting a "victim" title. I've always hated that they're called victim impact statements, I wish it was something a little more empowering since most people who end up writing one have more strength than anything else.
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@Sams Mom: Ps. I'm so sorry you've had to endure this.
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@Sams Mom: I'm an advocate with a prosecutors office. They will want the emotional, physical, mental and monetary toll you and your family experienced. Your thoughts on sentencing are also important if it is not a plea deal and the judge is going to pass sentence.
In our state, this statement is entered on the record and then sent on the DOC to become part of the defendants file and reviewed at time of parole, so I tell my victims to keep that in mind and list concerns about this person being back out in society.
This is definitely the time to write down your emotions and have them heard. And many people don't like the victim status, because in truth you guys are survivors and fighters. So sorry you had to experience that night.
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@Rocker2014: Thank you for that. It being called a victim impact statement is a big part of what I was hung up on. I know it could have been so much worse, and I do feel lucky, but no one else should ever have to count themselves lucky because this asshole didn't manage to murder again.
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@Tanjowen: I didn't realize it stuck with them through parole hearings. I will make sure to cover all the bases. He is facing 1 murder, 1 attempted murder, and 2 counts of felony assault with the law enforcement special class enhancer. His lawyer tried to get a 25 year plea bargain, which doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what he deserves as a persistent and violent offender.
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@Sams Mom: can't hurt to try? So sorry you're going through this nightmare.
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