National Defence Act

Marginal note:Duty to consider victim impact statement

• 203.6 (1) For the purpose of determining the sentence to be imposed on an offender or whether the offender should be discharged absolutely in respect of any offence, a court martial shall consider the statement of any victim of the offence describing the harm done to, or loss suffered by, the victim arising from the commission of the offence.

• Marginal note:Procedure

  (2) A victim’s statement must be prepared in the form, and submitted in accordance with the procedures, provided for by regulations made by the Governor in Council.

• Marginal note:Presentation of statement

  (3) Unless the court martial considers that it would not be in the best interests of the administration of military justice, the court martial shall, at the victim’s request, permit them to read their statement or to present the statement in any other manner that the court martial considers appropriate.

• Marginal note:Evidence concerning victim admissible

  (4) Whether or not a statement has been prepared and submitted, the court martial may consider any other evidence concerning any victim of the offence for the purpose of determining the sentence to be imposed on the offender or if the offender should be discharged absolutely.