Perceptions of the use of victim impact statements in Canada: A survey of Crown Counsel in Ontario

Abstract

This thesis examines the use of victim impact statements (VIS) in Canada by means of a questionnaire completed by Crown Attorneys in the province of Ontario. The thesis begins with a brief historical overview of the emergence of this sentencing tool, followed by a detailed examination of the current victim impact statement provisions in the Criminal Code . The paper then moves towards identifying areas of consensus in the research literature surrounding victim impact statements (such as the infrequency of their use and the degree of public and judicial support for them). The thesis then identifies areas of conflict surrounding victim impact statements (such as whether they are worth the time and expense to the criminal justice system and the victim, and what ways they might infringe on the rights of the offender). It then outlines the methodology used in the construction of the survey and describes the sample of Crown Counsel participating in this study. The thesis then summarizes the results of the questionnaire. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)