Victim Personal Statement

A Victim Personal Statement (VPS) is a document which tells the court about how the crime has impacted on the life of the victim or their surviving family members.  This gives victims the chance to have their views heard by the court ahead of sentencing.  It is only seen by the Judge in cases where the defendant has been found guilty.

You can write your own VPS, or have it written for you by a representative.  It is your choice whether you choose to complete one, but Victim Support NI can assist with the process if you wish to present one to the court.  This service is free and confidential.  If you would like to find out more about how we can help with this, please call the Victim Support NI Hub closest to you on Belfast 028 9024 3133 or Foyle 028 7137 0086.

Victim Impact Report

A Victim Personal Statement should not be confused with a Victim Impact Report, which is normally prepared by an expert psychologist or psychiatrist, and will show the medical impact the crime has had on the victim.  Victim Impact Reports are requested by a judge who wishes for information on the impact of the crime on the victim, and are sourced by the PPS.  They are most commonly used in cases of sexual violence, but can be requested for any crime.  The expert psychologist or psychiatrist will meet with the victim and speak to them about how the crime has affected them, then will prepare the report for the judge.  They can be used in addition and as a complement to Victim Personal Statements.