Backgrounder

VICTIMS FUND

In March 2000, the Government of Canada allocated $25 million over five years to the Department of Justice's Policy Centre for Victim Issues for federal victim-related initiatives and programs designed to improve support to victims of crime.

VICTIMS FUND

Ten million dollars over five years will be available for grants and contributions to provincial and territorial governments and non-governmental organizations to develop, promote and enhance services and assistance for victims. The Victims Fund supports the following objectives:

• ensuring 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;
• enhancing the Department of Justice's capacity to develop policy, legislation and other initiatives that take into consideration the perspectives of victims;
• increasing 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
• developing and disseminating information about effective approaches both within Canada and internationally to respond to the needs of victims of crime.

The fund is comprised of four components that directly support the objectives of the initiative:

Provincial and Territorial Implementation

This component will help provinces and territories to implement legislation for victims of crime, in particular the provisions of the Criminal Code such as victim impact statements, consideration of victim safety at bail, publication bans and restitution.

Innovative Pilot Projects and Activities

This component will provide financial assistance to governmental and non-governmental organizations to promote the initiative's objectives through innovative projects, public education, enhanced assistance to victims of crime, increased awareness of and access to services and assistance, establishment of referral networks, training initiatives and other initiatives.

Northern and Rural Projects and Activities

Financial assistance will be provided to governmental and non-governmental organizations to contribute to the development and expansion of victim services and assistance and to increase access to such services in northern and rural communities.

Emergency Financial Assistance

Limited emergency financial assistance will be available to individual victims of crime or surviving family members faced with unusual or extreme hardship due to criminal victimization where no other adequate source of financial assistance is available.

In addition, this component will provide financial assistance to surviving family members of homicide victims to attend early parole eligibility hearings, including travel, accommodation and meal allowances.

The guide for applying for funding may be found on the Policy Centre for Victim Issues website at http://canada.justice.gc.ca/en/ps/voc/index.html.

OTHER INITIATIVES

In addition to the Victims Fund, the Policy Centre will conduct a program of research to ensure that policies, legislation and programs effectively respond to victims' needs. All projects funded will be evaluated to determine what works and what needs to be changed to better respond to victims of crime. Additional resources - the remaining $3 million per year - will be used for ongoing consultation with victim advocates and service providers; public education and information materials to better inform victims of crime about the criminal justice system and their role in the system; research; and other initiatives to enhance the federal government's knowledge about victim issues and to inform legislative and policy development.

Revenue from the recently amended victim surcharge is expected to yield over $10 million annually. This revenue remains in the province or territory and must be used for provincial and territorial victim services. The Department of Justice research will assist the provinces and territories to further enhance victim services.

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Department of Justice
August, 2000