Victims' Rights

Victims have general rights to:

• be treated with courtesy, compassion and respect
• have any inconvenience to them be minimized
• have their needs, concerns and diversity, including cultural diversity, considered in the development and delivery of programs and services and in related education and training

Victims have the right to information about:

• the criminal justice system, the role of victims in it and opportunities to participate in criminal justice processes
• services and programs available to them as a victim
• financial compensation available to victims
• the status and outcome of the investigation into the offence
• where and when any proceedings regarding the crime will be held
• the progress of the case and its outcome
• the status of the offender in the correctional system, including reviews concerning releases and the timing and conditions of the release if granted
• options to raise their concerns when they believe their rights have not been respected, including information about filing a complaint

Victims have the right to:

• have their safety and security considered at all stages of the process
• have reasonable, appropriate and necessary measures taken to protect them from intimidation and retaliation

Victims have the right to:

• have their privacy considered and respected to the greatest extent possible
• request that their identity be protected if they are a victim of the offence or a witness in proceedings relating to the offence

Victims have the right to:

• state their views about decisions that affect their rights and have those views considered
• present a Victim Impact Statement and have it considered
• ask for testimonial aids when appearing as a witness

Victims have the right to:

• have the court consider making a restitution order against the offender
• have a restitution order entered as a civil court judgment that can be enforced