Victim Information

Victim Information

Who Is a Victim?

A victim is any individual who, during a criminal act or traumatic event, suffers loss, injury, harm or trauma. Victims are also family members, dependents and witnesses.

 

The Reality of Crime & Tragedy

Crime and tragedy can affect anyone at any time.

Crime and tragedy leave victims, families, friends and even the community around them in a state of turmoil.

Crime and tragedy come with many losses. Loss of finances, property, personal safety, loss of life, of privacy and loss of control.

There can be physical injury or pending harm.

And most devastating of all is the emotional pain and distress cause by such a traumatic event.

Grief

Grief is the painful experience of loss. It is the painful separation from someone or something we have loved very much, and it hurts deeply. Bereavement is the natural process of grief and morning. There are not short cuts to recovery. If you do not understand your grief, many physical and emotional difficulties may persist over a long period of time. Only when you begin to understand and express your grief naturally will healing begin.


Mourning takes approximately 18–24 months.


Healthy mourning requires a process of facing reality, testing how the death has affected us, finding ways to compensate for our loss and establishing new relationships which orient us to life.


We may experience ANGER, DOUBT, DENIAL, BEWILDERMENT, PANIC, DEPRESSION, FEAR, RESENTMENT, GUILT, BITTERNESS. We want to blame someone – to lash out. Overpowering emotions rush in at us all at once, depriving us of our peace of mind. You may wonder just how much you can endure.

Grieving is difficult, hard work – it will take time. It is emotionally and physically draining. Allow yourself the time to grieve.


Other Information We Can Provide

Safety plans

Legal information

How to explain the crime to children

Addictions – alcohol, drugs, gambling

Suicide counseling services

Elder abuse

Emotional Support

Listen with complete confidentiality, understanding and respect taking into consideration personal values and religious beliefs

Validate feelings of vulnerability, betrayal, fear, violation, anger and shock

Encourage personal empowerment by supporting the individual in regaining control of the situation

Dispel self blame by placing the blame on the offender

Information

We can help you gain access to financial assistance, survivor benefits, or transportation to other centers.

Referrals to counseling, social agencies, support groups

Education on the emotional and psychological effects of trauma and healthy self-care techniques; home safety, security improvements and property identification; how to talk with children about death; strategies for informing others of tragedy

Practical assistance; accompany the victim(s) to the hospital, to the home of friend or family member

Arrange for clergy, family member or friend to attend; to have locks or repairs seen to

Transportation to safe shelter, hospital, home or family or friend, emergency accommodations

Compile lists of stolen property

Facts

CANADIAN STATEMENT OF BASIC PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME

In recognition of the United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime, Federal and Provincial Ministers Responsible for Criminal Justice agree that the following principles should guide Canadian society in promoting access to justice, fair treatment and provision of assistance for victims of crime.

Victims should be treated with courtesy, compassion and with respect for their dignity and privacy and should suffer the minimum of inconvenience from their involvement with the criminal justice system.

Victims should receive, through formal and informal procedures, prompt and fair redress for the harm, which they have suffered.

Information regarding remedies and the mechanisms to obtain them should be made available to victims.

Information should be made available to victims about their participation in criminal proceeding and the scheduling, progress and the ultimate disposition of the proceedings.

Where appropriate, the view and concerns of victims should be ascertained and assistance provided throughout the criminal process.

Where the personal interests of the victims are affected, the views or concerns of the victim should be brought to the attention of the court, where appropriate and consistent with criminal law and procedure.

Measures should be taken, when necessary, to ensure the safety of victims and their families and to protect them from intimidation and retaliation.

Enhanced training should be made available to sensitize criminal justice personnel to the needs and concerns of victims and guidelines developed, where appropriate, for this purpose.

Victims should be informed of the availability of health and social services and other relevant assistance so that they might continue to receive the necessary medical, psychological, and social assistance through existing programs and services.

Victims should report the crime and cooperate with the law enforcement authorities.

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