DWI Victim Impact Panel

DWI Victim Impact Panels involve victims and/or their families and friends telling a group of offenders about the impact the crime had on their lives. The panelists are generally very emotional when they tell their story and the main goal is to prevent the offenders from drinking and driving again. Most of the time is allotted for the victims of offenders to speak, but usually some time is reserved for questions from offenders. Victim impact panels were first initiated in 1982 by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and proved to be a good revenue source for the organization. When a driver is convicted of DWI or DWAI, the offender's sentence usually includes a requirement that the offender attend a Victim Impact Panel in Buffalo NY.