District of Columbia Code Division IV. Criminal Law and Procedure and Prisoners. § 23-1904. Crime victims' rights at sentencing.

(a) Crime victims shall have the right to be present at the defendant's sentencing, release, parole, post-conviction, and record-sealing hearings.

(b) Crime victims shall have the right to submit, prior to the imposition of sentence, a written victim impact statement containing information concerning any emotional, psychological, financial, or physical harm done to or loss suffered by the victim.

(c) In determining the appropriate sentence to be imposed on the defendant, the Court shall consider any victim impact statement submitted in accordance with this chapter and such statement shall be made a part of the pre-sentence report filed by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency.

(d) Crime victims shall have the right to offer at the defendant's release or parole hearing a written statement of the victim's opinion whether the defendant should be granted release or parole.

(e) Crime victims shall have the right to make a statement at the defendant's sentencing and record-sealing hearings. The absence of the crime victim shall not preclude the court from holding the sentencing or record-sealing hearings.