Backgrounder

April 15, 2008

Ontario funds a broad range of victim services. These services support victims in the immediate aftermath of crime, throughout the criminal justice process and as they work to rebuild their lives.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES RECEIVING ADDITIONAL FUNDING:

VICTIM QUICK RESPONSE PROGRAM

This program provides services to victims of violent crime, to ensure they receive immediate, effective and compassionate assistance, including:

• Emergency Expenses - to ensure eligible victims are able to secure premises for victim safety, provide emergency accommodation and meals, care for dependants, transportation costs or specialized crime scene cleanup
• Funeral Expenses - to assist eligible families of homicide victims
• Counselling - to provide short-term, early intervention counselling to help victims of serious crimes.

In most locations, the Victim Quick Response Program is administered by community agencies that deliver Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Services.

VICTIM CRISIS ASSISTANCE AND REFERRAL SERVICES

This community response program provides immediate on-site service to victims, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It operates in 48 communities across Ontario and served more than 48,000 victims last year.

OTHER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FUNDED BY THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT:

VICTIM SUPPORT LINE

The Victim Support Line is a free province-wide information line providing services in 14 languages. These services include: referrals to community agencies, information on the criminal justice system, and information to registered clients about the status and scheduled release date of provincially incarcerated offenders. The telephone numbers are 1-888-579-2888 throughout Ontario and 416-314-2447 in Toronto.

VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

A cornerstone of services provided to victims of crime, this program helped more than 66,000 Ontarians last year. It provides information, assistance, referrals and support to victims and witnesses of crime, throughout the criminal court process, in all 54 court districts across the province. Program staff maintain close contact with local community agencies to ensure victims can access the full range of supports they need.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT PROGRAM

This program provides victims of domestic violence with support from specially trained service providers, such as: Crown prosecutors, Victim/Witness Assistance Program staff, police, and language interpreters. It operates in all 54 Ontario court districts and is the most comprehensive program of its kind in Canada.

BAIL SAFETY PROJECT

In 10 locations across the province, the Bail Safety Project provides trained teams of Crown prosecutors, victim services staff and police to conduct in-depth interviews with victims of domestic violence at the bail stage. This is a time of high risk for victims. The Bail Safety Project helps identify high-risk situations, allowing Crown prosecutors to make better recommendations at bail hearings to help stop the cycle of violence.

CHILD VICTIM/WITNESS CENTRES

Government-funded Child Victim/Witness Centres offer court preparation and assistance to children who are victims or witnesses of violent crime. In 2008, the program will be expanded to bring these valuable services to all regions of the province.

COMBATING INTERNET CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND LURING

This program combats Internet child pornography and supports victims. It includes:

• An undercover team of municipal police officers working online to identify suspects and victims and prevent further victimization
• Dedicated Crown prosecutors to ensure a uniform level of excellence with respect to victim support and prosecution
• Victim support to ensure that identified victims are connected with the specialized services they need.

SEXUAL ASSAULT/RAPE CRISIS CENTRES

Ontario's 39 Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centres offer counselling, information and support services to victims and survivors of sexual abuse.

SUPPORTLINK PROGRAM

Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking in 20 Ontario Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Services locations can get help planning for their safety and are provided 911-programmed cell phones.

COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM

This program provided more than $15 million over three years, including $6 million in 2007-08, for 107 locally-based projects that enhance services for victims of crime.

COMMUNITY HATE-CRIMES RESPONSE GRANTS PROGRAM

This is an anti-hate crime initiative that provided funding to 23 community organizations for anti-hate crime projects focusing on eliminating and preventing hate crimes and racism. These projects are currently underway and will be completed by the end of 2008. Three of the projects will have a province wide impact including:

• A hate crime forum to strengthen networks and share information among victims groups, educators and members of the criminal justice system
• A website for victims containing province-wide information about hate crimes and victim services
• Templates for community-based victim impact statements for use in court.

GUNS & GANGS TASK FORCE

Twelve victim/witness staff have been assigned to provide support on guns and gangs prosecutions. These staff work with victims and witnesses from the earliest stages of a case to determine their potential needs and coordinate with police, Crown prosecutors and community agencies to ensure these needs are met.

BARBRA SCHLIFER COMMEMORATIVE CLINIC

The clinic is a multi-service agency for female victims of violence in Toronto. The Ministry of the Attorney General provides annual funding for a specialized legal service for assaulted women.