Victim impact statement (VIS). Not all states allow them. It used to be that offenders and their defense lawyers would accuse the system of cruel and unusual punishment because they felt victims or their families created a bias against the offender which they felt made a trial unfair. It went to the Supreme Court and it was decided that each state was responsible for itself. A judge decides whether a VIS will be allowed or not. If they were never allowed what would this do to victims and families? If they are allowed, is that unfair to the person on trial if there's a chance his/her sentence will be longer because pf a VIS?