When You Are The Victim
G.S. 15A-833 — the victim's right to offer evidence of the crime's impact at sentencing
Written material, early. Within 21 days after the arrest, but not less than 24 hours before the first scheduled probable cause hearing, the district attorney's office gives the victim written material explaining the victim's rights, including to reasonably confer with the office about the case's disposition and to give a victim impact statement; eligibility for crime victims compensation and its deadlines; the steps of a prosecution; and the name and telephone number of a victim and witness assistant.
Choosing the notices. The victim indicates on a form whether they want notices of some, all, or none of the trial and posttrial proceedings, and may change the choice at any time. The office then notifies the victim of the date, time and place of every proceeding of the kinds chosen.
The impact of the crime. A victim has the right to offer admissible evidence of the impact of the crime, which the court or jury considers in sentencing. It may describe the physical, psychological or emotional injury suffered, explain any economic or property loss, and request restitution, saying whether the victim has applied for or received compensation.
No victim is required to offer it, and no inference is drawn from a decision not to. At the victim's request and with the defendant's consent, a representative of the district attorney's office or a law enforcement officer may present it.
Several of these rights apply only on request, or only to the offenses the section names. How they apply in a particular case is a question for a licensed North Carolina attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- G.S. 15A-832 — Responsibilities of the district attorney’s office
- G.S. 15A-833 — Evidence of victim impact
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney.