Victim impact statements.

Yes the effects of the crime on the victim would be considered an aggravating factor

Imo they should be assigned as much weight as a character reference for the defendant, ie. none

What if there is no Vis, should that have a lesser influence?

If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

I doubt any judge could ignore one, but because they're purely emotive statements i think they should be given after sentencing. Some people are better able to express their feelings than others, and some judges are going to be more easily swayed than others.

The same crime should carry the same sentence regardless of the emotional impact it has on the victim, and also regardless of the circumstances of the perpetrator imo. The vast array of sentences imposed here for similar crimes are a constant source of controversy and annoyance for the general public, especially when mitigating factors are given too much leeway.

What would the point be in hearing them after sentencing? The purpose of a victim impact statement is to help the judge set the headline tariff for the sentence. There is a maximum sentence for a crime but judges place the crime the person is convicted of it on a scal as to how bad an example of the crime it is. E.G is it the most awful version of the crime or at the lower end. Assault causing serious harm that puts some=one in a wheelchair is much worse than assault causing serious harm which leaves an already ugly person with another scar. After the headline tariff has been established eg for a sentence with a max possible of 10 years the judge might set a headline of 6 years, the judge then goes on to consider aggravating or mitigating factors. Stealing from a vulnerable person is worse than stealing from a big company. Betraying a position of trust is also an aggravating factor. An early guilty plea is a mitigating factor and so on.

Well if you continue the example.ofnassault causing serious harm that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Every person who commits this type of offence is not going to receive a life sentence, there are different levels depending on different factors.

The judge will compare the offence to similar offences and the sentences they received, they will take into account all aggravating and mitigating factors and determine the appropriate sentence.

When you use the wheelchair v scar scenario the wheelchair injuries is likely to incur a significant financial element as well as long term medical/physio treatment, psychological damage, this will be outlined in a victim impact statement and it would carry much more weight than someone who is left with a scar on their face who can continue about their normal daily functions.