A probation officer may contact you and ask if you wish to provide a victim impact statement at the defendant’s sentencing. Victims and/or their survivors have a legal right to make a statement about how the crime has impacted their lives. A victim can provide a written statement and submit it to the probation department to be attached to the presentence investigation, or dispositional report. They can choose to read an impact statement in court at sentencing. If a victim does not wish to provide a written statement, they can provide a verbal statement to the probation officer to include in the report as well.