The victim impact statement is noted to be the victim's story about the personal impact of the crime on his/her life. The importance of this statement is that only the victim/victims can make known to criminal justice fact-finders the true nature of the loss, suffering, life diminishments, and mental anguish caused by the offender's crime. This handbook first presents a flowchart that shows what happens to a victim impact statement in the course of case processing in Texas. The court reviews the statement at sentencing, and the statement is attached to the offender's commitment papers and is routed to the community supervision officer or to the parole board for consideration when making release decisions. The handbook then answers the following questions: the nature of victim impact information, who can provide victim impact information, who will see the victim impact statement, how the statement can help the victim, whether the statement has an impact, and whether there are other ways to provide victim impact information. The right of victims to make an oral statement to the court after sentencing is also explained. Although having no impact on the sentence, this oral statement can bring a sense of closure, often in the presence of the defendant, regarding the consequences of the crime. The glossary contains 28 pages of the explanations of various criminal justice terms.