8Content requirements for victim impact statements generally—the Act, s 29(1)(b)

8 Content requirements for victim impact statements generally—the Act, s 29(1)(b)

8 Content requirements for victim impact statements generally—the Act, s 29(1)(b)

(1) A victim impact statement must identify each victim to whom the statement relates.

(2) The statement must include the full name of the person who prepared the statement.

(3) If the statement is prepared by a person other than a victim to whom the statement relates, or a representative of a victim mentioned in section 11(1), the statement must—

(a) indicate that each victim does not object to the statement being tendered to the court, and

(b) be signed by each victim, or the representative of the victim, to verify that each victim does not object to the statement being tendered to the court.

(4) If a victim to whom the victim impact statement relates is a family victim, the statement must—

(a) identify the primary victim, and

(b) state the nature of the family victim’s relationship with the primary victim, and

(c) unless the family victim is related to the primary victim by blood or marriage—state the duration of the family victim’s relationship with the primary victim.

(5) If a victim’s representative acts on behalf of a primary victim for the purposes of providing information for the preparation of the statement, the statement must state the following—

(a) the representative’s name, and

(b) the nature of the representative’s relationship with the primary victim, and

(c) unless the representative is related to the primary victim by blood or marriage—the duration of the representative’s relationship with the primary victim.

(6) The statement must not contain—

(a) anything that is offensive, threatening, intimidating or harassing, or

(b) suggestions or views about—

(i) the sentence to be imposed, or

(ii) the matters that the sentencing court should take into account, or