eVIS: The Voice of Crime Victims Online

by Roxanne Moss

The aftermath of a crime can leave a victim feeling voiceless. While a “guilty” verdict may have been read, their journey to healing has just begun. They might wonder, “Will anyone understand the impact the crime has had on my life?” The Victim Services Division (VSD) is here to help with the innovative Electronic Victim Impact Statement (eVIS).

eVIS is the digital version of the Victim Impact Statement (VIS), a formal document for victims to indicate the physical, psychological, and financial impacts of the crime. Sharing their experience in their own words is a critical step in their healing journey.

Jenny Brantley, manager of the VSD Notification section, explained the process: Law enforcement agencies are required to provide victims with written notice of their rights as a crime victim. This often includes a copy of the VIS. Before a trial, the victim assistance coordinator in the district attorney’s office guides the victim through the criminal justice system, helping them complete the VIS either digitally via the eVIS or through a paper copy. The victim assistance coordinator is responsible for submitting the statement to the district attorney who will provide the statement to the judge for consideration prior to sentencing.

If the defendant is convicted and sentenced to the TDCJ, the VIS is added to the inmate’s file and is also considered by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles during the parole review process. If the victim did not complete the VIS prior to sentencing, they may still do so at any time for the document to be included in the inmate’s file.

The VSD added eVIS as a new feature to the Integrated Victim Services System (IVSS) portal, which was launched in 2019. Brantley described the IVSS portal as a great resource to crime victims.

“It allows the victim to register to receive notifications regarding the inmate post-conviction, including information about parole, offender release, or discharge. They can update their contact information and review their previous notifications. It also saves the eVIS as it is being created, so that the victim can save their progress and take breaks if needed. The IVSS portal also hosts the Texas Victim Resource Directory, a links library, a staff wellness library, recordings of previous webinars hosted by the Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse, and PDF versions of the brochures published by VSD.”

The vision for eVIS is clear: to create an additional way for a victim to exercise their right to be heard in the criminal justice process.

Brantley emphasized the program’s success. “The process works,” Brantley said, “and we are proud of the positive impact it has on victims.