Sample 3: Victim Impact Statement

Your Honor,

In the interest of the court, I want to state briefly the effects that the criminal actions of Rosemary Catherine Davis have had on me.

Since the crime, as much as I would like to enjoy my house, I go there with a certain amount of fear. I have spent a large sum of money safeguarding my house with an alarm system and cameras. Yet I still feel very little security. When I am there, I try to enjoy myself with the things I like to do, such as gardening, but find myself constantly on the alert. I have no idea what she might do next. But of more importance to me, neither my friends nor my family feel comfortable staying up at my house because of what has happened. I have a hard time relaxing or sleeping in my own home.

KNOWING THAT SHE WAS LIVING RIGHT NEXT DOOR HAS BEEN VERY UNSETTLING.

Besides the emotional trauma she has caused me, there is a significant financial impact. Along with the security measures, I am unable to rent my property as I had intended as, under the law, I must divulge any criminal acts occurring on the property. My insurance has been canceled and finding another carrier has been difficult because this is not the first time a similar break-in and vandalism have occurred.

I realize that a judgment for $2276.28 has been ordered but, this doesn’t begin to cover the full costs of the vandalism that occurred and the loss of my clothes she stole. My front door will not close like it used to and it never will because of her recklessness and disregard for other people’s property. SHE INTENDED TO SOLELY ROB AND VANDALIZE ME.

Rosemary Catherine Davis should be ordered to spend more time in jail or ordered to show up for community service every day. She should have to think about this criminal act and behavior. Ms. Davis also needs to have some substance abuse counseling and some mental health counseling or treatments to help her with the aggressive drug problem she has. Ms. Davis, in my opinion, did not spend enough time in jail and has had flagrant disregard for the court. Ms. Davis should not be able to commit 2 burglary crimes and get away with hardly and jail time. My robbery is not the only felony on her record.  

I would ask the court to give me an extended retraining order against Rosemary Catherine Davis for an extended amount of years. I am afraid of her and what she might try to do to me or my property in the future.

Sincerely, 
Patricia Smissen