Victim Services / Support Side of IPVU Flashcards
What are the programs offered by Victim Services York (VSY)
Located : 16640 Yonge St., Unit 1, P.O. Box 93339, Newmarket, ON L3X 1A3
- ON-SCENE RESPONSE
- VICTIM QUICK RESPONSE PROGRAM (VQRP)
- HOMICIDE SURVIVOR SUPPORT GROUP
- SUICIDE BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP
- TELEPHONE CRISIS RESPONSE
- COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
Which programs would apply to Domestic violence
- On Scene Response
- VQRP
- Telephone Crisis Response
What does Victim Quick Response Program do?
The Victim Quick Response Program has been established and funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General Victims and Vulnerable Persons Division to provide timely assistance to victims of the most violent crimes.
This program is designed to offer immediate financial assistance to victims of:
Homicide (including attempted murder)
Serious Physical Assault
Domestic Violence
Sexual Assault
Hate Crime
Human Trafficking
Referrals may be received from Police services in the province of Ontario, sexual assault centres, domestic violence shelters, emergency services, community agencies and self. In all cases, service providers are paid directly by the VQRP rather than to the victim
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THESE SERVICES?
A victim is eligible for these services if he or she has reported a violent Criminal Code offence to police services in Ontario, domestic violence shelters, sexual assault centres, emergency services or community agency providing services to victims of domestic/sexual assault
The crime occurred in Ontario, on or after June 30, 2007
The victim resides in Ontario
An application for counselling must be submitted within 90 days of the crime
An application for emergency expenses, crime scene cleanup or funeral expenses must be submitted within 45 days of the crime
There are no other financial resources available, i.e. insurance, workplace EAP, Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program
The victim has not previously received funding from the VQRP for the same criminal offence
The funds are expended in Ontario
What is York Region Centre for Community Safety (YRCCS)
Located -Suite 107, 25 Deverill Court, Markham, ON L6G 0C7
Services at YRCCS are available to all survivors of domestic/intimate partner/sexual/family violence and human trafficking who are in need of information and help in finding resources, safety, and hope for themselves and their children. Through our partner agencies, a range of services are available to help survivors choose which services will best assist them in creating a path toward safety and healing. Survivors are not required to report their abuse to police in order to access services. YRCCS is committed to providing culturally and linguistically responsive services, where survivors are respected and empowered to make the best choices for themselves.
Focus of YRCCS is
At the York Region Centre for Community Safety, we are committed to supporting adults and seniors who have experienced or have been impacted by intimate partner violence, domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking.
What is Victim Witness Assistance Program (VWAP)?
Located at 50 Eagle Street, Newmarket, Ontario
The Victim/Witness Assistance Program is a court-based program that provides information, help and support to victims and witnesses of crime so they can understand and participate in the criminal court process. A victim/witness service worker will talk with you and assist you based on your specific case and needs.
The Victim/Witness Assistance Program can:
provide you with information about your case, victims’ rights and the criminal court process
provide you with information about courtroom procedures and your role in court
help you understand what to expect at each court date and help prepare you for your appearance in court
provide you with key court updates
provide you with copies of court orders, such as bail conditions and probation orders
coordinate with the Crown attorney to provide your input, concerns and needs as they relate to the criminal court case
connect you with the police to discuss your safety concerns and any other information you wish to provide about the crime
offer emotional support throughout the court process
refer you to community agencies, including Indigenous and other culturally specific agencies, for additional services and supports you may need, such as counselling and safety planning
arrange for language interpreters and help ensure accommodations for any disabilities are met throughout your involvement with the program and while at court
assess eligibility for support through the Vulnerable Victims and Family Fund that will assist you to participate in the court process
help you understand and complete a Victim Impact Statement and a Statement on Restitution
The services start once police have laid charges and will continue until the court case is over. Services are free and your participation with the program is voluntary.
Who can use this service
Services are provided to victims and their families and witnesses involved in the following types of cases:
homicide
human trafficking
intimate partner violence/domestic violence
child abuse
sexual assault
elder abuse
hate crimes
motor vehicle fatality cases resulting in criminal charges
other violent crimes involving a victim with a disability
Ontario Victim bill of rights 1995
The people of Ontario believe that victims of crime, who have suffered harm and whose rights and security have been violated by crime, should be treated with compassion and fairness. The people of Ontario further believe that the justice system should operate in a manner that does not increase the suffering of victims of crime and that does not discourage victims of crime from participating in the justice process.
Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows
- Victims should be treated with courtesy, compassion and respect for their personal dignity and privacy by justice system officials.
- Victims should have access to information about,
i. the services and remedies available to victims of crime,
ii. the provisions of this Act that might assist them,
iii. the protection available to victims to prevent unlawful intimidation,
iv. the progress of investigations that relate to the crime,
v. the charges laid with respect to the crime and, if no charges are laid, the reasons why no charges are laid,
vi. the victim’s role in the prosecution,
vii. court procedures that relate to the prosecution,
viii. the dates and places of all significant proceedings that relate to the prosecution,
ix. the outcome of all significant proceedings, including any proceedings on appeal,
x. any pretrial arrangements that are made that relate to a plea that may be entered by the accused at trial,
xi. the interim release and, in the event of conviction, the sentencing of an accused,
xii. any disposition made under section 672.54 or 672.58 of the Criminal Code (Canada) in respect of an accused who is found unfit to stand trial or who is found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder, and
xiii. their right under the Criminal Code (Canada) to make representations to the court by way of a victim impact statement.
- A victim of a prescribed crime should, if he or she so requests, be notified of,
i. any application for release or any impending release of the convicted person, including release in accordance with a program of temporary absence, on parole or on an unescorted temporary absence pass, and
ii. any escape of the convicted person from custody.
- If the person accused of a prescribed crime is found unfit to stand trial or is found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder, the victim should, if he or she so requests, be notified of,
i. any hearing held with respect to the accused by the Review Board established or designated for Ontario pursuant to subsection 672.38 (1) of the Criminal Code (Canada),
ii. any order of the Review Board directing the absolute or conditional discharge of the accused, and
iii. any escape of the accused from custody.
- Victims of sexual assault should, if the victim so requests, be interviewed during the investigation of the crime only by police officers and officials of the same gender as the victim.
- A victim’s property that is in the custody of justice system officials should be returned promptly to the victim, where the property is no longer needed for the purposes of the justice system. 1995, c. 6, s. 2 (1); 2019, c. 7, Sched. 11, s. 7.
What services are available to victims from York Regional Police
- Victim Services of York (VSY)
- York Region Centre for Community Safety (YRCCS)
- Victim Witness Assistance Program (VWAP)
- Blue Doors
- Sandgate Women’s Shelter
- Housing Help Centre
- Rose Sharon Servicing for young mothers
- Yellow Brick house
- Family Services York Region
- Abuse hurts
- Shelter Transit Movers
- Women’s Centre of York Region
- MCIS
The Canadian Victims Bill of Rights 2015
only available to victim who is in Canada or who is a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident and only apply to offences which occur in Canada or if the offender is serving a sentence or conditional release in Canada
- Right to receive information about the justice system, and about the victim services and programs available to them.
- Right to have their security and privacy considered at all stages of the Criminal justice process, and to have reasonable and necessary protection from intimidation and retaliation
- Right to present victim impact statements and have them considered in court
- Right to have the court consider making a restitution order, and having an unpaid restitution order enforced through a civil court
- Right to make a complaint, using existing complaint mechanisms if they believe the rights have not been respected.
