Victim/Witness Assistance Programme (V/WAP)

The goal of the Victim/Witness Assistance Programme is to "enhance victims' and witnesses' understanding of, and participation in the criminal justice process."

Its specific aims are to provide victims and witnesses with:

• courtroom orientation;
• information about the criminal justice process;
• case specific information (bail, probation conditions, etc.);
• court accompaniment.

The programme also:

• serves as a liaison on behalf of victim/witnesses with police and Crowns;
• provides referrals to community agencies for counselling and/or other support services;
• provides a public education and coordinating function for agencies and other government bodies within the community;
• invites the participation of community members through the operation of an active volunteer programme.

Victims' Crisis Assistance and Referral Service (VCARS)

Providing immediate, on-site comfort and support to victims of violence.

VCARS sites funded through the Victims' Justice Fund and coordinated by the Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services, operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They provide comfort and immediate support, on site, to victims of crime and disaster. Police officers at a crime or accident scene can call on VCARS to send out a team of volunteers to provide short-term assistance along with follow-up services and referrals to community organizations where appropriate.

Victims’ Assistance Coordinator

The victims’ assistance coordinator position was established in 1998 to better serve the needs of victim’s of crime. The coordinator’s responsibilities include call backs to victims of crimes such as thefts and break ins, domestic violence and other offences as well as working with volunteer organizations who provide services to victims.

One of the first initiatives was the development of the VCARS (Victim Crisis Assistance Referral Service) program. VCARS volunteers are available to attend at the scene of an incidents and assist the investigator in locating appropriate services or counselling for victims. The VCARS program has been allocated office space in the Police Administration Building, adjacent to the lobby in order to serve the community.

In service training for all Service Members in the area of victims’ assistance was provided in order to introduce the many programs that have developed over the past two years. They include VCARS, VWAP (Victim Witness Assistance program) which is operated from the Court House through the Attorney General’s Office, the Domestic Violence Court project and others.

The Victims’ Assistance Coordinator sits on many boards and committees in relation to victims’ issues and services including a Ministerial Committee working toward the development of training material and programs on the Police Response to Domestic Violence, Elder Abuse, Suicide Awareness Network and many others. The goal is to develop a standard response to victims of crime across the province and deliver services to victims in answer to their specific needs.

Related Links:

• Ministry of The Attorney General (Ontario, Canada)