Survivors of homicide (that is, the family of deceased victims) have the right to make a written Victim Impact Statement that the judge will consider at the time of sentencing. The accused will see this statement and will be given a copy of it. 

The Victim Impact Statement describes how the murder has affected you, the harms and losses you have experienced as a result of the offence. The statement is intended to help the judge with his or her decision in sentencing. Personnel from the victim/witness assistance office can help you in writing this statement. Police officers may also be able to provide you with a victim impact statement form.

The survivor may read this statement out loud in court at the time of sentencing or the survivor may appoint someone to read the statement out loud if he or she does not wish to do so. A written statement may be given to the judge without being read out loud. The judge will give a copy to the defence lawyer so that it can be passed along to the offender following the sentencing.

You cannot assume that this single Victim Impact Statement is sufficient for all time. You may want to be in contact with the National Parole Board and submit regular statements to them about the long-term effects of the murder on you and on your family. Family members now have the opportunity to submit a statement and to read it at the National Parole Board hearing when the offender applies for parole.

Mennonite Central Committee Canada. (2011). Getting through the maze: A guidebook for survivors of homicide.