Iowa Code 915.21 – Victim impact statement
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1. A victim may present a victim impact statement to the court using one or more of the following methods:
a. A victim may file a signed victim impact statement with the county attorney, and a filed impact statement shall be included in the presentence investigation report. If a presentence investigation report is not ordered by the court, a filed victim impact statement shall be provided to the court prior to sentencing. Unless requested otherwise by the victim, the victim impact statement shall be presented at the sentencing hearing in the presence of the defendant, and at any hearing regarding reconsideration of sentence. The victim impact statement may be presented by the victim or the victim’s attorney or designated representative.
b. A victim may orally present a victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing, in the presence of the defendant, and at any hearing regarding reconsideration of sentence.
c. A victim may make a video recording of a statement or, if available, may make a statement from a remote location through a video monitor at the sentencing hearing, in the presence of the defendant, and at any hearing regarding reconsideration of sentence.
d. A victim may make an audio recording of the statement or appear by audio via a speakerphone to make a statement, to be delivered in court in the presence of the defendant, and at any hearing regarding reconsideration of sentence.
e. If the victim is unable to make an oral or written statement because of the victim’s age, or mental, emotional, or physical incapacity, the victim’s attorney or a designated representative shall have the opportunity to make a statement on behalf of the victim.
Terms Used In Iowa Code 915.21
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
- victim: means a minor under the age of eighteen who has been sexually abused or subjected to any other unlawful sexual conduct under chapter 709, 710A, or 726 or who has been the subject of a forcible felony. See Iowa Code 915.35
- Victim Impact Statement: A written or spoken statement by the victim or his or her representative about the physical, emotional, and financial impact of a crime on the victim. The statement is given to the court before sentencing.
2. A victim impact statement shall include the identification of the victim of the offense, and may include the following:
a. Itemization of any economic loss suffered by the victim as a result of the offense. For purposes of this paragraph, a pecuniary damages statement prepared by a county attorney pursuant to section 910.3 may serve as the itemization of economic loss.
b. Identification of any physical injury suffered by the victim as a result of the offense with detail as to its seriousness and permanence.
c. Description of any change in the victim’s personal welfare or familial relationships as a result of the offense.
d. Description of any request for psychological services initiated by the victim or the victim’s family as a result of the offense.
e. Any other information related to the impact of the offense upon the victim.
3. A victim shall not be placed under oath and subjected to cross-examination at the sentencing hearing.
4. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the inherent power of the court to regulate the conduct of persons present in the courtroom.