respond to the text below using references throughout post ... Victims of crime have many legal rights, including the right to be present, which means they can generally attend criminal trials, sentencing, and parole hearings of the offenders. This right is guaranteed by federal, state, and tribal laws. The victim's right to be present shouldn't interfere with the offender's right. The purpose of the victim's right of presence is for the victims and their representatives to see how the criminal justice system works. The victim's right to be present is exercised through the victim impact statement, which was useless during the murder trial of Stephanie Roper. Now, the victim impact statement is mandatory