Aisha's Story

After being assaulted, Aisha, who is Muslim, reports the crime to the police. The person who assaulted her had threatened Aisha for weeks based on her religion. Aisha speaks with the police during the investigation and testifies during the trial. The defendant is found guilty. Aisha spends a lot of time writing a victim impact statement to read at sentencing, but during the sentencing hearing the judge says that the court doesn’t have time. The judge also says since Aisha testified at trial, the victim impact statement is unnecessary. The court ends the sentencing hearing without hearing from Aisha. Aisha is angry because she wants to share how the crime has affected her and her family. That week, she speaks with an attorney who explains various rights that Aisha has as a victim, including the right to be heard at sentencing, which is separate from testifying at trial. The attorney also describes her legal options to seek enforcement of the right to make a victim impact statement, including filing a legal paper called a rights violation form and a motion with the court asserting the right and asking for the court to redo the sentencing hearing with the opportunity to make the statement.