Program offers helping hand

to crime vicitms

Steve Fanning

The Victim Services program is an independent arm of the criminal justice system. Its main focus is assisting victims of crime at all stages of the criminal justice process.

The program was developed on P.E.I. and has since been adopted by several other provinces and territories.

The program assists victims with information about the status of the investigation and the criminal justice system.

Also available for the victims are updates on court procedures, court dates, court status, financial status and the status of the offenders.

They also offer short term counselling and referrals for legal, financial and counselling services. Victims services is responsible for investigating claims for criminal injuries compensation and also helps victims gather

information and prepare their applications for the claim.

This program allows people to prepare a Victims Impact statement which is considered in the sentencing of offenders and lets the victim be heard.

The statement outlines the physical, emotional and financial effects of the crime.

Victims Services staff record the reactions of their clients at the end of the case and this information is compiled as a depiction of the work the program does. No one has reacted negatively and over half have responded very positively.