Which act established a clear and consistent structure for the consideration of victim impact statements (VIS)?

Which act established a clear and consistent structure for the consideration of victim impact statements (VIS)?

• A. Victims Rights and Support Act 2013 (NSW)
• B. Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Family Victim Impact Statement) Act 2014 (NSW)
• C. Young Offenders Act 1997 (NSW)
• D. Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW)

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is how the law creates a clear, consistent process for considering victim impact statements in sentencing. The 2014 amendment to the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act introduces Family Victim Impact Statements, laying out a defined framework for how VISs are used at sentencing. This amendment specifies who may submit a statement from the victim’s family, what information it can cover (the impact on family members, not just the victim), when it is presented, and that the court must consider it as part of the sentencing process. By formalizing these rules, it ensures a uniform approach across NSW courts, so victim families have a recognized, consistent way to convey the consequences of the offence to the judge. Other acts in the list deal with victims’ rights or broader criminal justice processes but do not establish this explicit structure for incorporating VIS into sentencing.

The concept being tested is how the law creates a clear, consistent process for considering victim impact statements in sentencing. The 2014 amendment to the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act introduces Family Victim Impact Statements, laying out a defined framework for how VISs are used at sentencing. This amendment specifies who may submit a statement from the victim’s family, what information it can cover (the impact on family members, not just the victim), when it is presented, and that the court must consider it as part of the sentencing process. By formalizing these rules, it ensures a uniform approach across NSW courts, so victim families have a recognized, consistent way to convey the consequences of the offence to the judge. Other acts in the list deal with victims’ rights or broader criminal justice processes but do not establish this explicit structure for incorporating VIS into sentencing.