Violent Crime Linkage System (ViCLAS)

ViCLAS is a Canada-wide computer system that assists specially trained investigators to identify serial crimes and criminals by focusing on the linkages that exist among crimes by the same offender. This system was developed by the RCMP in the early 1990s.

All police services in Canada contribute to ViCLAS by submitting information about the violent crime investigations undertaken in their jurisdiction. However, only trained ViCLAS specialists analyse and interpret the information in the ViCLAS system to find patterns and linkages in the reports of violent crime. The ViCLAS specialists are experienced police investigators who work collaboratively to ensure that their conclusions are reasonable. Many of the ViCLAS specialists are RCMP members while others work for provincial and municipal police services.

The National ViCLAS Policy Centre, one of the Behavioural Sciences programs in the RCMP, establishes and monitors policy, procedures and minimum standards regarding the submission of information to the ViCLAS database and analysis of crimes based on linkages from the ViCLAS database. In addition, the ViCLAS Centre provides strategic direction to ViCLAS operations and conducts research and development in case linkage systems.

Requesting ViCLAS Services

To request the services of a criminal investigator trained in using ViCLAS information, Canadian police services can contact the ViCLAS Centre within their region or province and international police services can contact Interpol, who will coordinate the request with the ViCLAS National Policy Centre.