Victim Services
Help When You Need It
Sunshine Coast RCMP Victim Services provides information, support and assistance to individuals dealing with the impact of crime and trauma such as assault, sexual assault, break and enter, robbery, fraud or sudden death.
Services are tailored to meet the needs of each client. Program staff strives to minimize the long term impact of crime and trauma through thoughtful and empathetic means and to prevent re-victimization by enhancing the victims understanding of police and court procedures.
British Columbia Victims of Crime Act
If you are a victim of a crime in British Columbia you have the right to:
- Be treated with courtesy and respect and without discrimination from all justice system personnel
- Receive information on the justice system, victim services, and related legislation
- Receive certain case-specific information on the investigation, prosecution, sentencing, and release
- Be given the opportunity to prepare a victim impact statement for presentation in court before sentencing
- Receive independent legal representation, provided free of charge where you cannot afford it, regarding the disclosure of your personal records.
Victim Services
The Government of British Columbia funds 150 Victim Services programs across the province. These programs are staffed by Victim Support Workers who are trained to assist victims and others who have had their lives impacted by crime or other serious trauma. These programs are located in RCMP detachments, municipal police stations, and in non-profit community agencies. All services are provided free of charge.
Victim Support Workers provide, or arrange for:
- Emotional support
- Information about the criminal justice system, the court process, and your case
- Court orientation and accompaniment
- Assistance with completing Crime Victim Assistance Program applications, if eligible
- Assistance in completing victim impact statements
- Crisis Intervention including: crime scene support as required, bereavement assistance, transition housing arrangements
- Liaison between Crown Counsel and the victim
- Referrals to appropriate community agencies and services
Our staff and volunteers are familiar with the various agencies in the community that are available to meet your specific needs. We can make referrals to many community services in relation to:
- Counselling (BC psychologists, BC counsellors)
- Grief Issues
- Robbery
- Multi cultural assistance
- Violence in Relationships (Ending Violence)
- Child Sexual Abuse
- Sexual Assault (VWSAC, BC male survivors)
- Stalking/ Criminal Harassment
- Threatening
- Youth and Family
- Legal information
- Trauma and post traumatic stress and other referrals as needed
- Victim Notification
VictimLINK
- Toll Free 1-800-563-0808
- Deaf and hard of hearing people can call TTY 604-875-0885
- Both numbers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Multilingual
- Provides info and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence
- More information available at this link: http://www.victimsinfo.ca/services/victimlink
Victim Services and the Common Experience Payments
If you are applying for a Common Experience Payment, Victim Services Workers can help by:
- Assisting you with completing application forms related to the Common Experience Payment, including the advanced payment
- Assisting with completing applications for those involved in the Independent Assessment Process
- Providing emotional support
You can reach the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada - National Survivors' Support Line, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-866-925-4419
Help is Only a Phone Call Away
- EMERGENCY - 911 * Do NOT text 911
- Non Emergency – Call your local Police
- Crime Victim Assistance Programs - 1-866-660-3888
- National Survivors’ Support Line - 1-866-925-4419
- VictimLINK - 1-800-563-0808
- VictimLINK TTY - 604-875-0885
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