RCMP ‘K’ Division Police Based Victim Services

1

Memorandum of Understanding

• Purpose: Formalizes partnership between RCMP

and SGPS Sets out roles & responsibilities of each party in the areas of governance regarding service delivery to victims

of crime and tragedy Honours all provisions outlined in

Victims of Crime Act Honours provisions outlined in Victims

of Crime Protocol Roles & Responsibilities

Overview

• Victims of Crime Act and Guiding Principles

• Victim assistance programs

• Victim Advocate On LineTraining

• Trained staff and volunteers

• Services provided Information Assistance Referrals Court preparation and accompaniment

Overview cont.

• Programs available to victims of crime Victim Impact Statement Financial Benefits Requesting Restitution

• Victims of Crime Protocol

• Contacts for further information

Victims of Crime Act

• Defines principles respecting the treatment of victims of crime in

Alberta.

• Under the Act, surcharges collected on federal offences and

provincial fines are deposited into the Victims of Crime Fund.

• The fund supports programs and services for victims including:

the Financial Benefits Program and a grants program that

provides funding to eligible victim assistance programs.

Victim assistance programs

• Provide information, assistance and referrals.

• Operated by caring, compassionate staff and volunteers who

can offer support.

• Police-based (located in RCMP detachment or police service)

Victim Advocate On Line Training

• Provides volunteer victim advocates with standardized training.

• Volunteers become certified by the Solicitor General’s Office once they complete the training process.

• Volunteer Advocates go through an RCMP Security Clearance

Staff and volunteers - training includes

• Crisis intervention

• Domestic violence

• Sudden death

• Robbery

• Property crimes

• Bias crimes

• Diversity

• Court preparation

• Criminal justice process

• Financial Benefits Program

• Victim Impact Statement Program

• Requesting Restitution Program

Services and information providedInformation about

• Legislation and programs

• Criminal justice process

• Status of the investigation

• Court proceedings

• Case disposition

• Personal safety

• Other community agencies that can help

Services and information provided cont.

Assistance with

• Crisis intervention

• Bereavement

• Safety planning

Referrals for

• Counseling

• Shelters

• Support groups

• Specialized services

Services and information provided cont.

Court preparation and accompaniment

• Familiarize you with the courtroom.

• Help you prepare to testify.

• Attend court with you.

• Vulnerable victims (children or people with disabilities) may be able to access additional supports.

Victim Impact Statement Program

• Provides victims with an opportunity to describe in writing how they have been affected by the crime.

• Tells the judge, at the time of sentencing, how the crime has affected you.

• Victims choose whether they wish to prepare a victim impact statement or read the victim impact statement aloud in court.

• Forms can be obtained from your local police-based victim assistance program.

Financial Benefits Program• Provides eligible victims of violent crime in Alberta with

one-time payments based on the injuries they received.

• Victims must report the crime to police and cooperate

with the investigation.

• Two-year time limit to apply, with some exceptions

(i.e: child victims).

• Victims should not wait to apply until charges are laid,

or the court process is concluded.

Requesting Restitution Program

• Requires the offender pay an amount to the victim, to help cover the victim’s monetary loss caused by the offence.

• Ordered at the time of sentencing.

• Forms can be obtained from your local police-based victim assistance program.

Victims of Crime Protocol • Principles that guide the people who work in the criminal justice

system when they are in contact with you.

• What you can expect from them after you report a crime.

• What your responsibilities are.

• What you can do in your contact with the criminal justice system.

• Copies can be obtained from your local victim assistance program, or downloaded from www.victims.gov.ab.ca.

Further information

• Contact your local Victim Assistance Program. Contact information is provided at www.victims.gov.ab.ca under “Related Agencies”.

• Alberta Solicitor General and Public Security www.victims.gov.ab.ca

• Alberta Police-based Victim Services Association www.apbvsa.com

Questions?