Avenues to Address Crime for Victims (4:IV)

A. Pursuing the Matter Through the Criminal System

Apart from the initial report to police, the victim is not responsible for the prosecution of the offender. The burden to conduct the case is on the Crown. The crime is also against the community, and the victim is a witness to this crime. Whether the victim wants to proceed, drop charges, or testify has little bearing on the case.

Police can make an arrest if there are reasonable grounds for the police to believe that an offence has been committed, if there is a warrant, or if they find a person committing an offence. If the Crown believes that there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction and it is in the public interest to proceed, a charge must then be laid. However, if the police decide not to recommend charges and if the explanation is unsatisfactory, the client may want to discuss the situation with a superior officer. In B.C., the police are not responsible for laying charges; they are responsible for completing an incident report or a Report to Crown if they are recommending charges, but it is up to Crown to determine whether charges will be laid. If Crown has not approved charges and the explanation is not satisfactory, the client may wish to discuss the matter with a more senior Crown Counsel. If still not satisfied, the client may write to Regional Crown Counsel. Finally, it may be appropriate to write to the B.C. Attorney General in Victoria.

For a client in a situation they believe is dangerous, but which does not constitute assault, sexual assault or another of the more common violent offences, there are various sections of the Criminal Code that may be relevant. If a client is a victim of one of these offences, it is within their rights to contact the police and ask that charges be laid. The following is a list of some related offences:

• s 264.1: Uttering Threats; s 346: Extortion; s 372(1): False Messages; s 372(2): Indecent Phone Calls;s 372(3): Harassing Phone Calls; s 423: Intimidation; s 425: Offences by employers (threats and intimidation); s 430: Mischief (damage to property); and s 810: Breaching a Peace Bond.

If the accused is convicted of an offence, the victim may submit an application for an order that the accused pay an amount by way of satisfaction or compensation for loss or damage to property suffered by the applicant as a result of the commission of an offence. This is known as a restitution order and can be found under s 738 of the Criminal Code. The application must be made early enough for the judge to render a decision at the time of sentencing and the loss must be quantifiable. After sentencing, thejudge has no jurisdiction to order restitution. If the accused does not pay, the applicant can, by filing the order, enter a judgment in Supreme Court. The judgment is rendered against the accused in civil proceedings. Often restitution is part of a probation order, which is a good way of securing compliance. Compensation may also be ordered to a bona fide purchaser of property that is restored to its rightful owner.

1. Court Orientation, Preparation and Accompaniment

If a charge is laid, the client may be asked to testify as a witness, or want to deliver a victim impact statement. They can receive help from Victim Service Workers, who can explain their rights, the type of support available, and their role in the criminal justice process. Victim Service Workers can also help with Crime Victim Assistance Program applications, and provide victims with information about subpoenas, pre-trial meetings with Crown, the court process, as well as court accompaniment for victims who attend court. For more information, including guides for both child and adult witnesses, and on victim impact statements, see: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/victimservices/court/

2. Victim Travel Fund

The Victim Travel Fund provides funding to a maximum of $3 000 per family/victim to help attend and participate in justice-related proceedings. Funding is available to victims who have suffered significant physical or emotional trauma as a result of a serious criminal offence. Funding is also available to immediate family members of deceased victims (e.g., parents, spouse, children, and siblings). Eligible expenses may include meals, accommodation and the most economical form of travel. Applicants for the Victim Travel Fund must also meet the following criteria:

• Applications should be made prior to the justice proceeding.
• To the eligible, the applicant has to travel more than 100 km one way to attend the justice proceeding.
• The justice proceeding will take place in B.C. and the proceeding is expected to impact the outcome disposition or results of the proceeding or hearing. (This excludes provincial parole and federal hearings)
• Travel and related expenses are not being covered by Crown counsel, the Crime Victim Assistance Program or any other source.

For more information or to request a Victim Travel Fund application form, call the Victim Safety Unit at 604-660-0316 or toll free at 1-877-315-8822, or e-mail vsusg@gov.bc.ca.

3. Parole Board of Canada Hearings

If the criminal prosecution is successful, clients may still be affected later on by decisions to release the offender(s). Victims who wish to attend Parole Board of Canada hearings may apply for financial assistance, including for travel, hotel and meal expenses. In order to be eligible, victims must have registered with Correctional Service Canada (for information on registering, see http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/victims/003006-0001-eng.shtml). Support persons may also be eligible for funding. Please note that this is only available for federally supervised offenders, and that applications should be submitted at least 30 days before the hearing date.

For more information, see the Department of Justice website.

B. Crime Victim Assistance Program

The Crime Victim Assistance Act [CVAA] is the primary piece of legislation that governs the Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP).

Although the CVAA and the Criminal Injury Compensation Act are both in force, it is expected that the Criminal Injury Compensation Act will ultimately be repealed. The transitional provisions of the CVAA allow previously adjudicated claims under the old Act to be transferred to the new Act for ongoing administration and for any further reviews. It is important to remember that, unlike under the old Act, a person cannot be awarded damages for pain, suffering, mental trauma, etc. under the CVAA – although a person can be awarded a variety of benefits, such as counselling, medical expenses, and other services or expenses. The CVAP replaces the Criminal Injury Compensation Program. The Victim Services and Crime Prevention Division of the Ministry of Justice administers this program.

The CVAP has been developed in response to the changing needs of victims and others impacted by violent crime. Benefits are available to victims of crime, and their immediate family members and those who meet the legislation’s definition of witness. One should note that the Program is not based on a compensation model, but rather is based on a financial assistance model. This provides eligible claimants with financial support as well as additional services and assistance to aid in their recovery from the physical and psychological effects of their victimization and to offset the costs of the victimization. Under the CVAA, a victim can still: initiate civil proceedings on his or her own; and/or make a claim under the Act. If a client wishes to initiate civil proceedings after making an application under the CVAA, the CVAP Director must receive a copy of the notice of civil claim within 10 days of service on the defendant (CVAA, s 15(1)). Keep in mind that after paying fees and disbursements, any money awarded to the victim in the civil proceedings must go toward paying back the money they received under the CVAA. The fact that an accused has not been criminally charged or has been acquitted of criminal charges is not a bar to commencing civil proceedings since the legal issues and the standard of proof are different. Thedifficulty with recovering anything directly from the accused is that there is seldom anything to be collected. Moreover, the procedure for making an application for assistance under the CVAA is less complicated than initiating a civil action. next p. 4-7