What We Do
Click here to preview a short excerpt from the video titled “Reaching Out”. A complete video is available. Please email your request/questions.
When you're the victim of crime or trauma, you may experience feelings of:
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- Victims of crime are often overwhelmed and confused, distrustful of others, and unsure how to deal with the emotional trauma.
- Victim Services can help you deal with these feelings. We provide support and reassurance. We want you to know that "you're not alone," that it's all right to feel the way you do - and that many of your fellow Albertans, also the victims of crime or misfortune, share the same feelings.
- Victim Services is a source of support to thousands of Albertans every year who have been victimized by crime. Our services are free and confidential.
Programs provide information, support, and referrals to victims of:
- Homicides
- Sudden Infant Deaths
- Suicides
- Sudden Deaths
- Traffic Fatalities
- Domestic Violence
- Assault
- Sexual Assault
- Robberies
Individual programs also provide information, support and referral to victims of:
- Property Crimes
- Identity Theft/Internet Fraud
- Other traumatic events in communities such as fires and floods
Victims are referred to our programs through Police, Community Agencies, Employers, Hospitals, Medical Examiners Office, and other Social Services agencies.
Excerpt from Alberta Solicitor General’s Victims of Crime Protocol: What victims can expect from the criminal justice system
When a crime is reported, victim services will…
- Upon request by police, respond to a location to assist a victim of crime
- Assist victims of crime to access community and government services providers to meet any immediate needs e.g. safety assistance, emergency financial assistance
When a crime is investigated, victim services will…
- Contact victims of crime in a timely manner following receipt of referrals from police services
- Ensure victims of crime receive: police phone number; police case file number, and victim services phone number
- Provide victim of crime with information about their opportunity to submit victim impact statements after charges are laid. Encourage them to keep a record of the impact the crime has had on them so they will have this material if they decide to prepare and submit a victim impact statement
- At the appropriate time, inform victims of crime who suffered physical or emotional injury as a result of the crime about the Financial Benefits program. Provide forms, pamphlet and information and support in filing out the forms. Highlight the telephone phone number for additional questions. Assist victims as appropriate with applications for financial benefits
- Provide victims of crime with information about how to request restitution. Assist victims as needed to complete restitution requests
- Assist victims of domestic violence in obtaining emergency financial assistance
- Provide victims of crime with referrals to other sources of help in the community as required e.g. medical, social, psychological, legal or financial
- Provide victims of crime with crime prevention information
- When asked by police, where there are safety concerns, inform victims of crime of the options available to them including: emergency protection order, Queen’s Bench protection order, peace bond, restraining order, seizure of firearms (Prohibition Order), release conditions, and safety planning and/or relocation
- Assist victims of crime with safety planning including how to apply for a protection order, and locating a shelter or safe place when required
- When asked by police, assist with the return of victim’s property when required
- When asked by police, provide victims of crime with information on the status of the police investigation (that is, whether the investigation is on-going or is closed)
- Provide emotional support and assure the victim of crime that information regarding the police investigation will be given to the victim of crime when it is available
When charges are laid, victim services will…
- When asked by police, assist in notifying victims of crime when charges are laid, the type of charge(s) being laid, the name of the accused, the status of the accused (i.e. in custody or in the community) and any restrictions placed on the accused (e.g. no-contact provisions)
- Upon request, provide victims of crime who are not witnesses but want to attend the court proceeding with information about the time and place of court proceedings
- Upon request, provide victims of crime with information about the court process, terms used in court and what to expect before, during and after a court process (For victims of serious and violent crime, or vulnerable and intimidated victims, offer to provide this service)
- Upon request, provide victims of crime with information about extra-judicial measures or diversion processes and contact numbers when these are being considered
- Upon request, arrange for victims of crime to receive a court orientation so they are familiar with the surroundings and what to expect at the courthouse in which the hearing or trial will take place (for victims of serious and violence crime, or vulnerable and intimidated victims, offer to provide this service)
- Upon request, for victims of crime who will be a witness, explain the subpoena and what to expect during court proceedings (for victims of serious and violence crime, or vulnerable and intimidated victims, offer to provide this service)
- Notify the Crown if the victim of crime who will be a witness needs special provisions in order to testify
- Notify the Crown of requests to provide a victim with information about the status of court proceedings: a) if a victim has requested to be kept informed; or b) if the nature of the crime, or the victim’s vulnerabilities, mean outreach services are appropriate (that is, that the Office of the Crown Prosecutor takes the initiative to inform victims of the status of court proceedings, whether or not the victim has requested the information)
- Provide additional information, assistance and support as required to help victims of crime complete restitution requests and financial benefit applications
- Provide victims of crime with information about the Victim Impact Statement Program and their opportunity to submit a victim impact statement, so the victim of crime is able to prepare a victim impact statement independently of the police and victim services a) remind the victim of crime of the opportunity to prepare and submit a victim impact statement once charges are laid, b) supply a victim impact statement form and envelopes to the victim, with the correct information provided on the blue victim impact statement envelope, c) inform the victim how to prepare and submit a victim impact statement
- After charges are laid, notify the Crown and court clerk of the victim’s intent to prepare a victim impact statement (Victim Impact Statement Court Notification form)
- Attach a label with victim’s contact information to the back of the restitution request. The information remains with the restitution request file but does not get copied when the restitution request is copied for the defense. If requested, deliver the restitution request to the Crown office
During court proceedings, victim services will…
Bail (Judicial Interim Release) Hearings
- When asked by police, assist in notifying victims of crime that the accused may be released following a bail hearing
- When asked by police, inform the victim of crime of any bail release conditions and help the victim of crime get a copy of the bail release conditions that affect them, (e.g. no-contact provisions)
- When asked by police, inform the victim of crime when the accused has been released from custody
Preliminary hearing and trial
- On request, assist in providing victims of crime with information regarding court dates, times, courtroom numbers when appropriate, and explanation of terms used during court proceedings
- On request, facilitate meeting(s) between the victim of crime and the Crown prosecutor
- Upon request of the victim of crime, provide court accompaniment and support re: parking, waiting room, and meeting the victim’s needs for comfort and security
- For victims receiving court support from victim services, explain to victims of crime who are witnesses how to claim for expenses and refer victims to the Court Clerk
- For victim receiving court support from victim services, advise the victim of crime about publication bans or exclusion of the public as appropriate
At the time of the verdict, victim services will…
- Advise the victims of crime before court of possible outcomes to the trial and what this means
If the accused is found guilty…..
- Explain the court processes
- Upon request by the judge, contact victims about presenting their victim impact statement at the time of sentencing
- Inform victims that they may be contacted by Alberta Correctional Services if a pre-sentence report has been requested by the judge
- With the consent of the victim of crime, provide the victim’s contact information to Alberta Correctional Services when a pre-sentence report has been requested by the judge
- On request, advise victims of crime of the date, time and location of the sentencing hearing
- On request, provide victims of crime with assistance to meet any special needs related to their participation in criminal justice processes
If the accused is found not guilty
- After the verdict, discuss the court’s findings with the victim of crime
- Address any safety concerns of the victim of crime and provide information on civil protection orders and the importance of contacting the police if they are threatened
- Where appropriate, discuss court decisions that include “not fit to stand trial” or “not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder”, and what these mean to the victim of crime
At the time of sentencing, victim services will…
- On request, assist with providing the victim of crime with information about the date, time and location of the sentencing hearing
- On request, provide the victim of crime with court accompaniment, support and interpretation
- On request, support the victim of crime through the process of reading their victim impact statement out loud to the court when the victim chooses to do so
- On request, if the victim of crime is not in court, contact the victim and provide information about the disposition of the case, the sentence including custody or probation, and provide copies of any conditions that affect the victim
- For victims in contact with victim services at the time of sentencing, provide the victim of crime with information about appeal processes that may occur
When the offender is in custody or under supervision, victim services will…
For victims of crime in contact with victim services at the time of sentencing
- Provide the victim of crime with information as appropriate about: a) Alberta Correctional Services b) the Correctional Service of Canada, c) The National Parole Board when appropriate including a copy of the brochure, an/or d) The Alberta Review Board
- Advise the victim of crime when the offender is sentenced to two years or more in custody that victims can register with the Correctional Service of Canada in order to be notified about the status of the offender. The victim of crime can choose the topics about which they are kept informed regarding the status of the offender
- Liaise with the National Parole Board as appropriate when there are safety issues
- Assist victims of crime with completing the relevant forms
When the offender completes the sentence and criminal justice system responsibility is completed, victim services will…
- On request, provide information, support and referral to the victim of crime as needed
- On request, assist the victim of crime to address any safety concerns
When a victim makes a complaint, victim services will…
- Handle complaints received directly from victims of crime who feel they have not been treated in accordance with the principles in the Victims of Crime Act, according to relevant policies and procedures
- Follow-up on complaints received from victims of crime forwarded from the office of the Director, Victims of Crime Act. These complaints are from victims of crime who feel they have not been treated in accordance with the principles in the Victims of Crime Act.
If you were injured as a direct result of a violent crime in Alberta, you may be eligible for a one-time financial benefit based on the severity of your injuries.
You may be eligible for financial benefits if:
You have suffered physical or emotional injury as a direct result of being a victim of violent crime that occurred in Alberta
- The crime was reported to police within a reasonable period of time and the victim cooperates with the investigation into the incident
- The application for financial benefits is received within two years of the date of the incidents (in special circumstances there are exceptions to this deadline)
- The applicant cooperates with the Financial Benefits Program and provides authorization to make inquires and obtain the information necessary to make a decision on the application
This process can take about four months and all decisions are in writing.
- Application forms are available from local victim service programs associated with local police services or through Alberta Solicitor General Victims’ Programs.
You have a right to complete a Restitution form which will be provided by the police officer investigating your case or your local victim service unit.
If you aren’t given a Request for Restitution form, please ask for one. Once you have filled out the form, return it to the police as soon as possible. The police will then send your form to the Crown prosecutor who will determine whether an application will be made to the court. If the Crown decides not to make the application, you can ask the court to do so. If that is the case, you may wish to contact your own lawyer.
Courts can order convicted offenders to pay restitution to victims as part of their sentence. Restitution can cover any out-of-pocket losses directly relating to the crime, including:
- Damage, destruction, and loss of property
- Bodily or psychological harm
- Expenses incurred in moving out of the offender’s house
- Losses incurred by unknowingly purchasing or lending money on stolen property