Summary
"The multi-site survey was conducted under the Victims of Crime Initiative, which, through the
Policy Centre for Victim Issues of the Department of Justice Canada, brings together federal,
provincial, and territorial governments to respond to the needs of victims and improve victims'
experiences in the criminal justice system.
The purpose of this survey is to gather information on a wide range of issues concerning the
criminal justice system as it pertains to victims and criminal justice professionals, with a
particular emphasis on recent Criminal Code provisions as outlined above. Findings from this
study will generate evidence to inform future legislative reforms and policy changes by
providing insight on the following issues:
use and awareness of recent reforms by criminal justice professionals as they
pertain to victims of crime;
nature of information provided to victims during the criminal justice process;
victims' experiences with the legal provisions and other services that are intended to
benefit them throughout the criminal justice process; and
barriers to the implementation of recent reforms for criminal justice professionals."--Page 2.
Contents
1. Background and Iitroduction -- 1.1. Recent Criminal Code provisions intended to benefit victims -- 1.2. Purpose of the study -- 1.3. Outline of the report -- 2. Methodology -- 2.1. Selection of sites -- 2.2. Respondent groups -- 3. Experience of victims in the criminal justice system -- 3.1. Overview of case and victim characteristics -- 3.2. Services received by victims -- 3.3. Information received by victims -- 3.4. Consideration of victim safety at bail -- 3.5. Experience with testifying -- 3.6. Victim impact statements -- 3.7. Other Criminal Code provisions and restorative justice -- 3.8. Victims’ overview of their experiences -- 4. Findings from criminal justice professionals -- 4.1. Role of the victim in the criminal justice process -- 4.2. Responsibility of criminal justice professionals to victims -- 4.3. Services for victims -- 4.4. Information for victims -- 4.5. Bail determinations -- 4.6. Provisions to facilitate testimony -- 4.7. Preparation for court -- 4.8. Victim impact statements -- 4.9. Restitution -- 4.10. Victim surcharge -- 4.11. Conditional Sentences -- 4.12. Restorative justice -- 4.13. Victim safety post-sentencing -- 4.14. Victim participation in parole -- 4.15. Information for criminal justice professionals -- 4.16. Impact of Criminal Code provisions -- 5. Summary -- 5.1. Results from the multi-site survey of criminal justice professionals -- 5.2. Results from the victim interviews --
Appendix A.
The Canadian Statement of
Basic Principles of Justice for
Victims of Crime --
Appendix B.
Letter of introduction --
Appendix C.
Interview guides and
self-administered questionnaires.