Victim Services is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the request of police for crisis calls to assist victims of crime and trauma including family members and witnesses. Highly trained staff provide emotional and practical crisis support plus ongoing support services including information on your police file, police procedures, the court system, referrals to community supports, assistance with Crime Victim Assistance applications and Victim Impact Statements. A team of trained volunteers assist with the Court Support Program which facilitates court preparation, courtroom orientation and court accompaniment.
Victim services provides support to victims of:
Assault
Arson
Break & Enter
Threats
Criminal Harassment (Stalking)
Domestic Violence
Fraud
Fire
Hate crime
Homicide
Human Trafficking
Missing Persons
Motor Vehicle Collisions
Robbery
Sexual Assault
Sudden Death
Suicide/Attempted Suicide
Please note that there are some situations that are beyond the services Victim Services are mandated to perform; are too dangerous to the staff or will not help victims. Examples of these are:
Violent situations, where the combatants have not been separated through arrest, detention or removal to a different residence or shelter.
Victims who are utilizing other services that provide crisis assistance.
Psychotic, schizophrenic or other actively mentally ill people in crisis will be referred to the appropriate services.
People who are intoxicated/on drugs and are unlikely to benefit from and will not receive immediate assistance, but may receive follow-up at any date.
Child victims of physical or sexual assault who are not under their parent’s care and control fall under the mandate of the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Victim Services does not provide:
Legal advice.
Advice on family and/or civil matters.
Your Rights If You Are A Victim of Crime
British Columbia’s Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) sets out the rights of victims. It gives victims the right to:
Be treated fairly and with respect by all workers in the criminal justice system;
Receive information about:
Victim services available to you
Benefits
Financial assistance for criminal injury
How the criminal justice system works
Your rights to privacy
You may also be able to receive information about the:
Status of police investigations for your case
Court dates and what happens at court
Accused or offender while they are in the community and in custody
