What is a MADD victim impact panel like?

Question

No there were no victims of injuries. I was driving 10 mph over the speed limit so I was stopped for speeding. I just feel so much guilt and shame over it. I dropepd out of college because I was so ashamed. I just sit in my house all day. I just wanted to help society since I am a horrible person.

Answer 1

I've worked overtime at victim impact panels.....this is what you should expect.....

It will be a VERY large crowd, filled with people all convicted of DUI's.  There will be choice speakers describing people in their lives who were lost, or had their lives altered due to drunk drivers.  It's not going to be as bad as you think but there are some very sad stories that go with it so it could be emotional.

They will not be standing there speaking to you and blaming you for what you did.....they are standing up there to try to prevent you from making the same mistake again.

The only "rough" part about it is that they demand respect while you are attending which will mean no phones, no hats, no falling asleep, no smart comments, etc or a person gets kicked out of the panel and will have to re attend at a later date.  Which here in Vegas is difficult to do, each month 100's of people line up to attend and meet the court requirements but the building only fits so many.....

Just be respectful while you are there and keep an open mind....hopefully the stories you hear from the victims families will be enough to remind you not to make the same mistake again and how easy it could have been for that little mistake to end in a much more catastrophic event.

edit:  your not a horrible person, your someone who made a mistake.  Beating yourself up over it does no one especially yourself any good.  Learning from it and ensuring that it doesn't happen again is all that counts.  Remember everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect.  If this impact panel isn't court ordered I wouldn't recommend going to it if it affects you that badly.  They are designed to try to prevent repeat offenders.  They are normally court ordered upon conviction and a part of the sentencing.

Answer 2

Here are a number of sites that will give you information in regards to the impact panels.

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=madd+im...

Answer 3

No they will not blame you, they will like Alcoholics anonymous tell it like it is.

Interestingly though, they will allow you also to speak and explain for their understanding, what it is like to have this DUI problem and why?

Both sides can console and have closures from interactions.