Victims Services improves the justice system’s
response to victims of crime by increasing public and professional understanding of
victims’ needs and by funding or delivering services to meet these needs.
Victims of Crime Act amendments now in force
Amendments to The Victims of
Crime Act and
Regulations come into force December 1, 2006, to help
the criminal justice system respond better to the needs of victims
of crime.
A key feature of these amendments is a list of guiding principles
that set out how victims of crime should be treated by the
criminal justice system, such as ensuring they are treated with
courtesy, compassion and respect. These principles are based on
“Canada’s Statement of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of
Crime 2003”, approved by Ministers Responsible for Victims
Services across Canada.
The amendments also improve the administration of the Victims
Compensation Program, which provides payment to victims of crime
for expenses resulting from a violent crime. Changes include:
lengthening the period to apply for compensation from one to two
years; compensating immediate family members of homicide victims
for counseling services; increasing the maximum amount for
counseling from $1,000 to $2,000 in exceptional cases; define
counseling to include traditional Aboriginal healing methods; and
providing a formal appeal process.
Click
here to read the Declaration of Principles Respecting the
Treatment of Victims of Crime.
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