Policy Centre for Victims Issues

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Policy Centre for Victim Issues

WHAT WE DO

The Policy Centre for Victim Issues at the Department of Justice Canada is mandated to work toward improving the experience of victims of crime in the criminal justice system by pursuing a range of activities and initiatives to:

• ensure that victims of crime and their families are aware of their role in the criminal justice system and services and assistance available to support them;
• enhance departmental capacity to develop policy, legislation and other initiatives which take into consideration the perspectives of victims;
• increase the awareness of criminal justice personnel, allied professionals and the public about the needs of victims of crime, legislative provisions designed to protect them and services available to support them; and
• develop and disseminate information about effective approaches both within Canada and internationally to respond to the needs of victims of crime.

The Policy Centre for Victim Issues engages in legislative reform, consultation, policy development, research, and project funding. The Policy Centre for Victim Issues does not however provide criminal injuries compensation to victims of crime. The PCVI has a close working relationship with the provinces and territories that are tasked with the responsibility for victim service delivery and the provision of criminal injuries compensation to victims of violent crime, where such programs exist.

For information on the services provided to victims of crimes in your jurisdiction, please contact the provincial or territorial government Victims Services number located in the blue pages of your telephone book. Or click on the links provided below.

Links to Provincial / Territorial Governments can be found on this page: http://canada.justice.gc.ca/en/ps/voc/other.html

SHARED JURISDICTION, SHARED RESPONSIBILITY

Addressing the needs and concerns of victims is a shared responsibility. The Policy Centre for Victim Issues works closely with the provinces and territories, encouraging and supporting a series of activities in partnership.

CANADIAN STATEMENT OF BASIC PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME, 2003

OTHER SHARED RESPONSIBILITY

A new National Office for Victims has been established within the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to better meet the needs of victims of offenders under federal supervision. The office will allow victims to access relevant information and address concerns and complaints they may have. The office will be co-located with the Department of Justice's Policy Centre for Victim Issues that is mandated to coordinate federal initiatives for victims of crime and to ensure that the perspectives of victims of crime are considered in the development of policy and law reform.

The Policy Centre for Victim Issues will also administer a financial assistance program to defray the costs for victims of federally supervised inmates to attend National Parole Board hearings. The Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness has received approval of these resources that will be provided to the Department of Justice to be administered as part of the Victims Fund.

The financial assistance component of the Victims Fund, along with the creation of a new National Office for Victims and partnership with the Policy Centre for Victim Issues, is part of the Government's continued commitment to supporting victims of crime.