Victim's oral impact statement to court before sentence imposed--Response of defendant--Victim defined

If a defendant has been convicted of an A, B, or C felony, upon request to the court by a victim and before imposing sentence on a defendant, the victim has the right to orally address the court concerning the emotional, physical, and monetary impact of the defendant's crime upon the victim and the victim's family, and may comment upon the sentence which may be imposed upon the defendant.

If a defendant has been convicted of any other felony or misdemeanor, upon request to the court by a victim and before imposing sentence on a defendant, the victim, in the discretion of the court, may orally address the court concerning the emotional, physical, and monetary impact of the defendant's crime upon the victim and the victim's family, and may comment upon the sentence which may be imposed upon the defendant.

The defendant shall be permitted to respond to such statements orally or by presentation of evidence and shall be granted a reasonable continuance to refute any inaccurate or false charges or statements.

For the purpose of this section, the term, victim, means the actual victim or the parent, spouse, next of kin, legal or physical custodian, guardian, foster parent, case worker, victim advocate, or mental health counselor of any actual victim who is incompetent by reason of age or physical condition, who is deceased, or whom the court finds otherwise unable to comment.

Source: Supreme Court Rule 86-21; SL 2004, ch 162, § 1; SL 2005, ch 129, § 1; SL 2012, ch 133, § 1; SL 2013, ch 105, § 4.