<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>67741</law_id><section_number>19.2-299.1</section_number><catch_line>When Victim Impact Statement required; contents; uses</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-273</reference><reference>19.2-11.01</reference><reference>19.2-295.3</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="18">Sentence; Judgment; Execution of Sentence</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">presentence report</span> prepared pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Investigations and reports by probation officers in certain cases" href="/19.2-299/">19.2-299</a> shall, with the consent of the victim, as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Crime victim and witness rights" href="/19.2-11.01/">19.2-11.01</a>, in all cases, include a Victim Impact Statement.
		A Victim Impact Statement shall be kept confidential and shall be <span class="dictionary">sealed</span> 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 <span class="dictionary">offense</span>, (iii) identify the nature and extent of any physical or psychological injury suffered by the victim as a result of the <span class="dictionary">offense</span>, (iv) detail any change in the victim&#x2019;s personal welfare, lifestyle or familial relationships as a result of the <span class="dictionary">offense</span>, (v) identify any request for psychological or medical services initiated by the victim or the victim&#x2019;s family as a result of the <span class="dictionary">offense</span>, and (vi) provide such other information as the court may require related to the impact of the <span class="dictionary">offense</span> 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 <span class="dictionary">crime</span> victim and <span class="dictionary">witness</span> 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 <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> or <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> for the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> without <span class="dictionary">court order</span> at least five days prior to the sentencing <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>. The statement shall not be <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> in any civil proceeding for <span class="dictionary">damages</span> arising out of the acts upon which the <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> was based. The statement, however, may be utilized by the Virginia Workers&#x2019; Compensation Commission in its determinations on claims by victims of <span class="dictionary">crimes</span> pursuant to Chapter 21.1 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Findings; legislative intent" href="/19.2-368.1/">19.2-368.1</a> et seq.).</p></section></text><history>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.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
