South Dakota Codified Laws 23A-27-1.3. Victim’s written 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, a victim has a right to address the court in writing 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 address the court in writing 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.
Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 23A-27-1.3
- Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
The defendant shall be permitted to respond to such statements 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 anyone adversely impacted emotionally, physically, or monetarily by the defendant’s crime.
Source: SL 2012, ch 133, § 2; SL 2013, ch 105, § 5.