Overview of Federal Corrections and Criminal Justice
Victim-Centred Information and Assistance

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Minister of Public Safety Canada

Responsible for Federal Correctional Policy and The Corrections and Conditional Release Act

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) provides police services under contract to all provinces and territories (except Ontario and Quebec) and under separate policing agreements to 180 municipalities. As part of performing these policing duties, RCMP officers routinely interact with victims of crime and trauma, offering referrals to available victim services. rcmp-grc.gc.ca

National Office for Victims (NOV)

publicsafety.gc.ca/nov
1-866-525-0554

The NOV contributes to Public Safety Canada's mission of building a safe and resilient Canada by acting as a central resource that:

• offers information and support on federal corrections issues;
• promotes awareness of services through the development and dissemination of information products to victims, victim service providers and the general public;
• operates a toll-free line that victims may call from anywhere in Canada or the United States;
• provides referrals to CSC and PBC for specific enquiries;
• ensures that a victim's perspective is reflected in national policy development; and,
• leads stakeholder discussions and facilitates exchanges of information amongst federal/provincial/territorial government agencies, as well as municipal agencies and non-governmental victim-serving groups.

Correctional Service of Canada (CSC)

csc-scc.gc.ca/victims-victimes
1-866-806-2275

CSC is responsible for exercising reasonable, safe, secure and humane control of offenders having received sentences for imprisonment of two years or more, while actively encouraging and assisting offenders to become law-abiding citizens.

Victim Service Units

• register victims, so they can receive information about offenders who harmed them;
• provide information to victims as outlined in section 26 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, including the offender's name, sentence length and other information about the offender;
• notify registered victims when an offender who is eligible to apply for a Judicial Review does not do so within the allotted time frame; and,
• provide links to other services and resources.

Restorative Justice Division
csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rj/index-eng.shtml.

• provides victim-offender mediation services to victims of crime through the Restorative Opportunities Program.

Parole Board of Canada (PBC)

pbc-clcc.gc.ca
1-866-789-INFO (4636)

The PBC is an independent administrative tribunal that makes parole decisions.

Regional Communications Officers

• register victims, so they can receive information about offenders who harmed them;
• provide information to victims, such as the offender's parole eligibility or hearing dates, as outlined in section 142 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act;
• answer victims' questions about the parole decision-making process;
• send registered victims copies of Board release decisions, if requested;
• attend parole hearings with victims; and,
• connect victims to other services and resources.

PBC and CSC co-host Regional Victim Advisory Committee meetings aimed at giving victims an opportunity to discuss relevant issues.

Minister of Justice Canada

Responsible for Criminal Justice Policy and the Criminal Code

Policy Centre for Victim Issues (PCVI)

http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/pcvi-cpcv/
Victims Fund: 1-866-544-1007

PCVI is the lead federal organization working for victims of crime within the federal government.

The six main functions of PCVI consist of

• law reform and policy development;
• leadership among federal/provincial/territorial governments;
• providing public education to all Canadians and outreach to victim serving organizations;
• leading international activities that will benefit victims of crime;
• building knowledge within the criminal justice system on the issues that face victims of crime; and
• providing financial assistance and project funding through the victims fund, including:
  • project funding to support initiatives that address the impacts of victimization, raise awareness or enhance/develop victim services;
  • financial assistance for registered victims and their support people to attend parole board hearings.
  • financial assistance to Canadians who have been seriously victimized abroad (specified serious offences);
  • funding for provinces and territories to implement victim-related legislation, provide services to victims and set up financial assistance programs within their jurisdictions;
  • funding for the development or the expansion of Child Advocacy centres; and,
  • funding for the development of culturally relevant victim services for families of missing or murdered.

Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime (OFOVC)

victimsfirst.gc.ca
1-866-481-8429

OFOVC is an arm's length federal government office that works to help victims of crime and their families by:

• informing victims about the federal programs and services that exist to help them;
• addressing complaints made by victims about federal government departments, agencies, employees, laws or policies;
• referring victims to programs and services in their city or province that may be able to assist them;
• identifying issues that have a negative impact on victims; and,
• making recommendations to the federal government on how to effect positive change for victims of crime.

For additional copies, please email ps.nationalofficeforvictims-bureaunationalpourlesvictimes.sp@canada.ca or call 1-866-525-0554.

October 2012

Date modified:

2016-02-29