A DUI/DWI Victim Impact Panel is a small group of 2-4 persons who speak briefly about a vehicle crash caused by an impaired or intoxicated driver in which they were injured or in which a friend or family member was injured or killed. Persons who have been charged with DUI/DWI criminal offenses are often required to attend a Victim Impact Panel to better understand and remember the devastating consequences of driving while impaired or intoxicated.

Victims who speak at Victim Impact Panels do not blame or judge the people listening and only seek to share their own tragic stories in a way that may help others understand the lasting effects of impaired driving—while giving the speakers the opportunity to heal and find some small amount of meaning in their tragedies.

Victim Impact Panels are available both live and online and are sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

In Michigan, DUI/DWI Victim Impact Panels are part of the educational and rehabilitative measures used in the legal system to address the issue of impaired driving. These panels are typically sponsored by organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and serve as a sentencing or probation requirement for individuals convicted of DUI/DWI offenses. The purpose of these panels is to humanize the consequences of driving under the influence by having victims or their family members share personal stories of how impaired driving has affected their lives. The goal is not to assign blame but to promote awareness and prevent future incidents. While Michigan state statutes do not specifically mandate attendance at Victim Impact Panels for all DUI/DWI offenders, judges often have the discretion to include such programs as part of the sentencing or probation conditions. The availability of these panels, both live and online, provides flexible options for compliance with court orders.