Backgrounder

NATIONAL OFFICE FOR VICTIMS
1-866-525-0554

Victims' involvement in federal corrections and conditional release has grown extensively over the last years. The number of victims who registered with the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) and the National Parole Board (NPB) for notification more than tripled between 1995 and 2004, up from 1,200 to 4,400. NPB receives over 1,100 new requests per year for access to its decision registry and provides 4,000 decisions annually to victims.

New National Office for Victims

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada has established a National Office for Victims of offenders under federal responsibility. Effective November 1st, 2005, this office will enhance existing information services provided directly by CSC and NPB.It will be co-located with the Policy Centre for Victim Issues (PCVI) at the Department of Justice and victims will be able to reach the office by calling, toll-free, 1-866-525-0554 from anywhere in Canada and the United States.

What is the role of the office?

Both CSC and NPB already offer a number of services for victims and provide information to registered victims. For example, victims can obtain a copy of NPB decisions, attend parole hearings and present an impact statement. The National Office for Victims will provide a centralized mechanism for them to obtain information and support on federal corrections issues. The office will:

• provide general information to victims and perform a referral function to CSC and NPB for specific information enquiries;
• provide a "victims' lens" at the national level for the Department, CSC and NPB in terms of policy development;
• develop information products for dissemination to victims and the general public.
• complement the work being done by PCVI; and,
• provide input into the development of communication and training material by the Department, CSC and NPB.

Existing CSC and NPB victim services officers (i.e. Victim Liaison Coordinators and Regional Communications Officers) will continue to be the primary source of ongoing information to registered victims.

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