The current study reveals the forms of harm that Israeli social workers choose to portray to the judge through victim impact statements (VIS); what they choose to highlight; as well as the harmful aspects they choose to overlook. The study adopted an inductive-narrative approach; that is, the categories, themes, and patterns of analysis emerged from the data rather than being imposed by the outsiders. All statements focued on the same six themes: the child's emotional reactions; the child's behavioral, cognitive, and psychophysiological difficulties; the parents’ emotional responses; the family's restructuring; the victim's recommendations for punishment; and the social worker's diagnosis and prognosis. The similarities among the victims’ statements lead to several research and practical implications.
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