Last updated 12 September 2018

Victims of personal offences or domestic and family violence, including breaches of domestic violence orders, police protection notices and release conditions under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld), may give a Victim Impact Statement (VIS) at the time of sentencing of the offender.

A victim does not have to do a VIS, it is optional. Section 179M of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld) (Penalties and Sentences Act) enables a prosecutor to request that the court allow for a person to read aloud a VIS during sentencing. Section 179N of the Penalties and Sentences Act provide for a number of arrangements that the court can consider when allowing a person to read out a VIS. This may include excluding persons from the court or obscuring the reader’s view of the offender.

More information about VISs is available from victim liaison officers at the Office of the Department of Public Prosecutions or on the Victim Assist website.