The presentence report prepared pursuant to § 19.2-299 shall, with the consent of the victim, as defined in § 19.2-11.01, in all cases, include a Victim Impact Statement.
A Victim Impact Statement shall be kept confidential and shall be sealed upon entry of the sentencing order. If prepared by someone other than the victim, it shall (i) identify the victim, (ii) itemize any economic loss suffered by the victim as a result of the offense, (iii) identify the nature and extent of any physical or psychological injury suffered by the victim as a result of the offense, (iv) detail any change in the victim's personal welfare, lifestyle or familial relationships as a result of the offense, (v) identify any request for psychological or medical services initiated by the victim or the victim's family as a result of the offense, and (vi) provide such other information as the court may require related to the impact of the offense upon the victim.
If the court does not order a presentence investigation and report, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall, at the request of the victim, submit a Victim Impact Statement. In any event, a victim shall be advised by the local crime victim and witness assistance program that he may submit in his own words a written Victim Impact Statement prepared by the victim or someone the victim designates in writing.
The Victim Impact Statement may be considered by the court in determining the appropriate sentence. A copy of the statement prepared pursuant to this section shall be made available to the defendant or counsel for the defendant without court order at least five days prior to the sentencing hearing. The statement shall not be admissible in any civil proceeding for damages arising out of the acts upon which the conviction was based. The statement, however, may be utilized by the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission in its determinations on claims by victims of crimes pursuant to Chapter 21.1 (§ 19.2-368.1 et seq.).
1983, c. 541; 1984, c. 282; 1987, c. 676; 1989, c. 374; 1993, cc. 436, 569; 1995, cc. 687, 720; 1996, c. 398; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 344, 345.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 19.2 - Criminal Procedure
Chapter 18 - Sentence; Judgment; Execution of Sentence
§ 19.2-295. Ascertainment of punishment
§ 19.2-295.1. Sentencing proceeding by the jury after conviction
§ 19.2-295.3. Admission of victim impact testimony
§ 19.2-296. Withdrawal of plea of guilty
§ 19.2-297.1. Sentence of person twice previously convicted of certain violent felonies
§ 19.2-298. Pronouncement of sentence
§ 19.2-298.01. Use of discretionary sentencing guidelines
§ 19.2-298.02. Deferred disposition in a criminal case
§ 19.2-299. Investigations and reports by probation officers in certain cases
§ 19.2-299.1. When Victim Impact Statement required; contents; uses
§ 19.2-302. Construction and administration of §§ 19.2-300 and 19.2-301
§ 19.2-303.01. Reduction of sentence; substantial assistance to prosecution
§ 19.2-303.1. Fixing period of suspension of sentence
§ 19.2-303.2. Persons charged with first offense may be placed on probation
§ 19.2-303.4. Payment of costs when proceedings deferred and defendant placed on probation
§ 19.2-304. Increasing or decreasing probation period and modification of conditions
§ 19.2-305.1. Restitution for property damage or loss; community service
§ 19.2-305.2. Amount of restitution; enforcement
§ 19.2-305.4. When interest to be paid on award of restitution
§ 19.2-306. Revocation of suspension of sentence and probation
§ 19.2-306.1. Limitation on sentence upon revocation of suspension of sentence; exceptions
§ 19.2-307. Contents of judgment order
§ 19.2-308. When two or more sentences run concurrently
§ 19.2-308.1. When sentence may run concurrently with sentence in another jurisdiction
§ 19.2-310. Transfer of prisoners to custody of Director of Department of Corrections
§ 19.2-310.01. Transmission of sentencing documents
§ 19.2-310.2:1. Saliva or tissue sample required for DNA analysis after arrest for a violent felony
§ 19.2-310.3. Procedures for withdrawal of blood, saliva or tissue sample for DNA analysis
§ 19.2-310.3:1. Procedures for taking saliva or tissue sample for DNA analysis
§ 19.2-310.4. Procedures for conducting DNA analysis of blood, saliva or tissue sample
§ 19.2-310.6. Unauthorized uses of DNA data bank; forensic samples; penalties
§ 19.2-313. Eligibility for release
§ 19.2-314. Supervision of persons released
§ 19.2-316. Evaluation and report prior to determining punishment