GVPVS is Recruiting
Greater Victoria Police Victim Services is recruiting for an Executive Assistant.
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Click Here for Job Description
Greater Victoria Police Victim Services is holding information sessions in March.
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Greater Victoria Police Victim Services provides services to victims of crime or tragedy who may or may not have reported the crime to police or be involved with the criminal justice system.
Police Victim Services Program Objectives
- To lessen the impact of crime and trauma on victims and their families and to assist in their recovery
- To increase victim safety and to help reduce the risk of further victimization
- To increase the level of participation and sense of empowerment for victims throughout their participation in the criminal justice system
- To increase the effectiveness of a victim while acting as a witness in court proceedings
Program Details
Greater Victoria Police Victim Services program provides the following services:
Emotional Support
Victim Services will provide victims with emotional support to assist them in their recovery from the effects of crime and trauma. The program does not provide counseling services to a victim; however we will refer a victim to an appropriate resource for those services.
General Information
Victim Services will provide victims with information such as: the justice system; relevant federal and provincial legislation and programs pertaining to victims of crime; crime prevention; safety planning; and community, government, justice, health and other resources available.
Justice Related Information
Victim Services will provide or facilitate victim access to case-specific information which may include:
- The status of the police investigation, charges laid against the offender, protective orders, outcome of court appearances, the custodial status of the convicted offender, and length of sentence/parole information
- Witness orientation, courtroom etiquette and procedures. Victim service workers will not provide legal advice to victims
Practical Assistance And Support
Victim Services will:
- Assess the needs of victims for additional supports and/or services and make appropriate referrals to community, government, justice, health and/or other resources
- Assist victims in completing applications for the Crime Victim Assistance Program and victim impact statements
- Facilitate/coordinate safety planning including liaison with justice system personnel, the Ministries Victim Safety Unit, and/or local community partnerships (where they exist) established to provide safety assessments and protective devices including cell phones and home alarms for high-risk victims
- Provide other types of practical support and assistance as appropriate. Victim service workers do not provide crime scene clean-up
Accompaniment
In cases of serious crime and/or where the victims are particularly vulnerable, Victim Services will at the request of the victim, provide or facilitate their accompaniment to police, Crown Counsel, or court.
Community Relations
In providing services to victims as outlined above, the Program must establish and maintain working relationships with local community, government, justice, health and other service providers to facilitate coordination, minimize service duplication, and maximize effective referrals across agencies.
Coordination and Protocol
In communities with both community-based and police-based victim service programs, programs shall develop and adhere to a local victim service program protocol which must contain the following provisions:
- Regular meetings with other local victim service program(s)
- consistent referral procedures
- detailed procedures for handling disputes/grievances
Police Call Outs
Response to requests by police for assistance at crime/accident scenes or other locations identified by police or accompaniment to assist police with next-of-kin accident or death notifications. This service is provided to police 24/7.
Public Awareness and Education
Programs in the local community on victimization, victim services, and crime prevention.
Victims of Crime Act Click here
Complete list of police and community based victim services programs in BC click here
For services in other languages call Victim Link 24 hours a day 1-800-563-0808
