Criminal trial khatam hone ke baad jab sentencing stage aati hai, to theory me judge ko offence ke saath-saath victim ka suffering bhi consider karna chahiye. Isi concept se victim impact statement aata hai – jahan victim ya unke family court ko batate hain ki crime ne unki life pe kya effect dala.
Yeh statement financial loss se lekar emotional trauma, social stigma, health issues, daily struggle – sab describe kar sakta hai. Kuch systems me written, kuch me oral, kabhi counsellors ke through.
Question ye uthta hai: “Kya courts actually sunte hain?” Increasingly, haan. Specially serious offences me, victim ki side sunna sentencing ko more informed bana sakta hai – compensation amount, imprisonment length, aur rehabilitation measures yahan shape le sakte hain.
Baat balance ki hai – judge ko emotional appeal se completely driven nahi hona, par cold statistics pe bhi nahi tikna. Crime ka real footprint samajhna hi victim impact statement ka purpose hai.
