Crime victim impact statements

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, a crime victim may offer a statement regarding the impact of the crime on his or her life, which may be considered at sentencing, disposition, or parole hearings.

This bill names such a statement a “victim impact statement.” Under the bill, a victim impact statement is confidential, and unless the statement contains exculpatory information, the statement is not considered a witness statement that must be disclosed by the prosecuting attorney to the court and to the defendant at trial. The bill allows a victim to amend or retract a victim impact statement he or she has provided up until the time at which it is disclosed. Under the bill, a victim impact statement may not be disclosed until after a plea has been entered or a conviction has been obtained in a criminal case, at which time the statement must be disclosed to the court, the prosecuting attorney, and the defendant or the defendant's attorney, and the judge must enter a protective order barring redisclosure of the statement. The bill requires that a disclosed statement be kept confidential and returned to the court at the conclusion of representation.

Who's behind it

12 lawmakers are its authors⁠. All 12 are Republicans.

4 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

• Amendment Histories