Victim Statement

The Victim Impact Statement is optional but recommended for every victim.  This is a written description of how the crime has affected you, the victim, your family, friends and co-workers.

A template is provided to assist you in completing this statement. More than one statement may be completed as the situation progresses.

While it is not required, the Victim Statement may serve two purposes:

1. Writing down your feelings and everything that is happening to you as a result of this crime may help you feel more in control of the situation. This documentation can help you gain perspective on what you have done and what you need to do as well as documenting everything (if ever needed) for your case.
2. The statement can be provided to any party that is hesitant to assist you, and the judge if your imposter is caught. It helps the judge and prosecuting attorney to understand the full aspect of how this criminal has affected your life and can be considered in sentencing.

Suggested content:

In your own words, describe how the theft of your identity has affected any or all of the following:

1. You
2. Your Family
3. Your Friends
4. Your Job

A family member may write the statement for you or they may write a separate statement on how they have been affected.

Topics to include for each of these areas are:

1. Financial Losses
2. Emotional Effects
3. Physical Effects

Explaining your Financial Losses is important because it indicates the seriousness of the offense and can influence the appropriate bail and /or sentence. The judge may also use this to order repayment to the victim. Items such as use of vacation time or time off with no pay to write letters, make phone calls or drive to and stand in line to obtain a required document, etc. should be included.

Emotional Effects include the variety of emotions that you have been experiencing throughout the Identity Theft situation.

Physical Effects, such as loss of sleep, stress symptoms, etc. also explain how this experience has affected you.

Do Not Include: 

1. A description of the crime
2. Derogatory remarks about the imposter

Information obtained from the US Department of Justice, Office of Victims of Crime; Us Department of Health and Human Services, Tips  for Survivors;  Identity Theft Resource Center, Fact Sheet #108, and York County Virginia, Victim Assistance Program and Fraud Victim Advocacy Organization (www.Fraudaid.com).

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