Victim's Impact Statement

[PatrickG]

Hey!

Last weekend was the one year anniversary of my roommate's murder and I went out of town to visit the old apartment and hang out. Thirty of his friends went out to dinner at the old college dining hall. We played a game of keys (bit of a mix of shuffleboard and bowling with keys), took the old path we used to walk every day and went back to the old apartment for a get together.

The man who killed him goes up for arraignment in just under a month (he's out on bail now) and I just found out that I still have a chance to submit an impact statement. I was unclear on what these are until I googled it.

The prosecutor will not oppose parole so I probably have little impact on the sentencing. At the same time, if I'm reading online correctly, I can ask for restitution from the killer for expenses incurred relating to my roommate's death (which I would presume would extend to things like rent for the duration of the lease we were under and therapy bills). Quite frankly, it may seem crass but I want to nail the guy any way I can.

Has anyone submitted one of these before? Any fledgling ADAs or criminal defense attorneys here? Any advice?

Thanks!

[Michael P]

I assume since you're talking about going straight from arraignment to sentencing that the guy's going to plead guilty. What's he going to plead guilty to, and what's he likely to get for it?

[PatrickG]

I dunno. I'm hoping he pleads guilty. The victim's advocate has changed a few times and none have been terribly informed.

All I know is that I've been told I have until tomorrow to prepare an impact statement. Nobody has really informed me about anything beyond that. I feel a bit excluded from the process and they don't seem to be telling the family rep (my roommate's sister) anything except:

- They aren't opposing parole.
- They won't plea bargain.
- Arraignment is March 17th.
-The guy is out on bond right now.
- The police held off on testing anything for six months assuming they didn't need evidence (there was an indirect confession; the guy's mother arranged for him to be handed over to police) but then went back and did the forensics. This led many of us to worry the guy would plead not guilty.

[Solaris]

You might try PMing Slam Bradley or if he's still here, Boldido. IIRC they both work in criminal justice.

Hope that helps. *crosses fingers*

[LewisH]

They are very generic but they should give you some idea as to the format and content.

http://www.ci.baltimore.md.us/crime/downloads/sample%20victim%20impact%20statement.pdf

http://www.madd.org/docs/Victim%20Impact%20Statement%20Workbook.pdf