Victim Impact Panels


SHARE YOUR STORY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

"I don't want another mom to go through what I did when my daughter and granddaughters were hit by a drunk driver."

Pam, DUI Survivor

What is a Victim Impact Panel (VIP)?

A Victim Impact Panel is a group of people who express their feelings and talk about their experience. A VIP usually consists of 3 or 4 panel members. Panelists do not blame nor judge those who attend. They simply tell their stories of how their lives and their families have been affected.


 

Who are the Panelists?

Depending on the audience, 3 or 4 members of the panel are victims, the others may be a:

  • Victim Advocate
  • Counselor
  • Police Officer
  • Emergency Personnel
  • Offender

Who Is The Audience?

  • Offenders
  • Church Groups
  • School Assemblies
  • Criminal Justice Professionals
  • Prison Inmates
  • Counselors
  • Driver Education Classes
  • Alcohol Treatment Programs

Value for Panel Members

By serving on a VIP, victims:

  • Find that telling their story lightens personal pain and enhances emotional healing
  • Experience something positive from a devastating event
  • Believe they may prevent other families from suffering a similar victimization
  • Hope they can change the behavior of at least one offender or youth

Many panelists report that while it is emotionally draining to tell their stories and to relive the crime, they are strengthened each time they do.

Some panelists say that participating on a panel helps them move from depression about the past to take charge of their lives again. Others speak in memory of loved ones.


Value for Audience

If the victims' stories are told in person and from the heart, in neither a blaming nor accusatory way, they may:

  • Enable audience to understand crime from the victim's perspective
  • Serve as the first step in breaking down denial and moving toward responsibility
  • Imprint images of real people in the minds of the audience
  • Help offenders move beyond being "stuck" focusing on their own "bad luck"
  • Change behavior and save lives

Preparation Tips

Do:

  • Tell what happened
  • Express how the crime has affected you, your family, your hopes and dreams
  • Use visual aids and mementos
    • photos of loved ones and special events
    • death certificates, awards, or poems
  • Speak from the heart
  • Use notes to keep you on track
  • Dress casually
  • Be prepared for a few insensitive responses

Do not:

  • Quote statistics
  • Express your opinion of the justice system
  • Blame or accuse those in the audience
  • Express anger or rage unless you also explain the sadness and sorrow beneath it
  • Over-rehearse your story
  • Read a prepared statement

How Does the VIP work?

  • You will be seated with the other panel members behind a table, at the front of the room
  • The coordinator will open and close the presentation
  • The coordinator will introduce you, after which you will speak for 10 to 15 minutes regarding your experience
  • You are not expected to interact with attendees, unless you choose to do so informally after the presentation
  • At the end, attendees will be asked to complete evaluations

Comments About Victim Impact Panels

"Speaking on the panel is therapeutic and helps me keep perspective. If I can help even one person, I'm happy."

Patti, domestic violence victim

"Driving under the influence of alcohol is more than a traffic offense. Often times, the arrest and court proceeding of the OMVI case only has financial consequences on the offender. The addition of the Victim Impact Panel to the offenders sentence makes the offender aware of the very personal and tragic consequences that can arise from the offenders actions."

Judge Michael E. O'Malley
Judge Ann Cunningham
Putnam County Court

"In order for the offenders to change their behavior, they must recognize the consequences of their actions. The legal consequences are readily apparent, but may not be long lasting for the first offenders. It is also necessary that the offenders recognize the real life consequences of their actions to help them make better decisions in the future."

Judge Kevin C. Smith
Findlay Municipal Court

"The Victim Impact Panel transforms, in the Defendant's mind the "could haves" and "what ifs" to the cold hard reality of "it happened."

Judge Vernon L. Preston
Findlay Municipal Court

"I believe the Victim Impact Panel is an integral part of successfully completing the ASTOP experience. The panel provides a poignant illustration of the devastating results which can be inflicted by those persons operating their vehicle under the influence."

Judge William G. Lauber
Lima Municipal Court

Victim Impact Panels are coordinated by a trained staff member at Crime Victim Services

If you are interested in more information on Victim Impact Panels, or are interested in becoming a speaker, please contact the coordinator at the Putnam County telephone number listed below:


Crime Victim SERVICES

Allen County
116 W. North Street
Lima, OH 45801
419-222-8666
1-877-867-7273
Fax: 419-227-7478

Putnam County
338 E. Third St.
Ottawa, OH 45875
419-533-1111
1-877-274-7471
Fax: 419-523-3900