This week offers an opportunity to raise awareness about victim issues, and about the services and laws in place to help victims, survivors and their families.
When a crime occurs, it doesn’t affect just one person, but their family members and the entire community. Victims and survivors of crime and their families deserve support from their community. Many victim service providers, police officers and professionals working in the criminal justice system provide assistance to victims and survivors of crime and their families.
Victims and survivors of crime need to know that they have a voice in our criminal justice system and that there are laws in place to help them.
Victims of crime have rights at every stage of the criminal justice process.
RIGHT TO INFORMATION – You have the right to request information about: the criminal justice system and our role as a victim; the services and programs available to you; the status and outcome of the investigation and legal procedures; the date, time, and location of proceedings in relation to the offence; reviews relating to the offender’s conditional release and the timing and conditions of that release.
RIGHT TO PROTECTION – You have the right: to have your security and privacy considered by the appropriate authorities in the criminal justice system; to have measures taken to protect you from intimidation and retaliation; to request that your identity be withheld from the public; to request testimonial aids when appearing as a witness in court.
RIGHT TO PARTICIPATION – You have the right: to present a victim impact statement and have it taken into consideration; to share your views on decisions that affect your rights.
RIGHT TO RESTITUTION – You have the right: to have the court consider making a restitution order against the offender to pay for your financial losses; to file the restitution order as a civil court judgment if the offender fails to pay.
Help is available.
- John Howard Society (306) 693-0777
- Moose Jaw & District Victims Services (306) 694-7621
- Moose Jaw Transition House (306) 693-6511
- Regina & Area Sexual Assault Centre (306) 352-0434
