What role does victim impact awareness play in juvenile hearings?

Victim impact awareness plays a crucial role in juvenile hearings by helping the juvenile understand how their actions affect not just the victims, but also their families and the broader community. This awareness fosters empathy and accountability in the juvenile, which are essential components for personal growth and rehabilitation.

By considering the consequences of their behavior on others, juveniles are more likely to reflect on their decisions and the harm they have caused. This understanding can inspire positive changes in behavior and attitudes, thus guiding them toward rehabilitation rather than solely focusing on punishment. It encourages a sense of responsibility for their actions and can facilitate discussions around the concepts of empathy, accountability, and community impact.

The other options do not fully capture the intent and purpose of including victim impact awareness in juvenile proceedings. While support services for victims and considerations for sentencing are important aspects of the juvenile justice system, the primary goal of victim impact awareness is to enhance the understanding of consequences for the juvenile's own development and future behavior.