DC DUI Victim Impact Panels

When a person is arrested and charged with a DUI, a frequent condition the person might have to complete as part of their penalty is the Victim Impact Panel. The following is information on what you should know regarding these panels and how they can impact your case. To learn more call and schedule a consultation with a DC DUI lawyer today.

Victim Impact Panels

The Victim Impact Panel is a one hour panel discussion held by organizations consisting of people who have been affected by drunk driving. Most frequently, the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving is responsible for setting up and conducting Victim Impact Panels.

In a Victim Impact Panel, a person who is charged or convicted of a DUI listens to a group of individuals who may have had family members or friends who have been injured or killed by people who were drinking and driving. The person charged with a DUI listens to the panelists’ stories and how they were affected by drunk driving.

The Victim Impact Panel usually lasts for one hour and is held in various locations in every state in the country. Panels usually cost less than $50 and the attendee gets a certificate or a signed completion record indicting they completed the Victim Impact Panel.

Impact on DUI Cases

The Victim Impact Panel can be a condition of a negotiated resolution in a DUI case with prosecutors. They can also frequently be a condition of a probationary period imposed by judge after a person is convicted of a DUI.

Completing a Victim Impact Panel is sometimes a helpful part of negotiations between a person’s defense attorney and the prosecution where the defense can negotiate for reduced penalties or for dismissal of charges in exchange for completion of a Victim Impact Panel, possibly along with other conditions.

DC Victim Impact Panels

In DC, the completion of a Victim Impact Panel can sometimes be a prerequisite for a negotiated resolution with prosecutors and it can sometimes be a requirement imposed by a judge as a condition of probation after a person has been convicted of a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) offense.

Victim Impact Panels are held in DC usually once per month. It is important for a person facing a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charge to discuss with their defense attorney the benefits of attending a Victim Impact Panel and how it can assist them in resolving their case in a favorable way.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Typically, the organization responsible for organizing Victim Impact Panels is Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Mothers Against Drunk Driving is an organization that exists in every state in the country with multiple locations in every state hosting Victim Impact Panels. Sometimes they are held at office spaces, conference centers or churches. They are typically held once per month in multiple locations in most states.

When Victim Impact Panels are Offered

Victim Impact Panels are held at various times in various locations in every state. In most circumstances, there is a Victim Impact Panel in an area where the defendant lives that is hosted over weekends or in the evenings so that the person does not need to take time off from work to be able to attend the panel.