An in-depth look at Western Alberta Regional Victim Serving Society services.

  • Information about Victims’ rights
  • Information about Victims of Crime Protocol
  • Information/Navigation about criminal justice system, court procedures,
    victims’ role in court
  • Notifications, as described in the Victims of crime protocol
  • Information about victim impact statements, statements on restitution, and
    community impact statements
  • Court dates and outcome of court proceedings
  • Navigation and coordinating access to justice system personnel
  • Court Preparation
  • Attending court with victims
  • Canvassing for testimonial aids and other accommodation requirements
  • Emotional support and court debriefing

  • Assistance with death notification and subsequent immediate emotional support (active
    listening)
  • Practical assistance (e.g., providing water, contacting a family member/friend, etc.)
  • Providing referrals to access immediate support from community agencies
  • Professional resources (e.g., assisting with finding a women’s shelter, etc.)
  • Emotional support and resources for families or by standers when present at scene of
    motor vehicle collision (MVC) or other tragic circumstance
  • Providing information to resolve immediate concerns including:
    • The Medical Examiner’s role
    • Victims of Crime Assistance Program (VAP) (e.g., funeral expense reimbursement, counselling, medical benefits)
    • Alberta Works
    • Note: additional information will normally be provided during follow-up within normal
      business hours
  • Providing consultation for follow-up procedures for the next business day

Civil or Other Legal Issues

  • Individuals dealing with legal issues outside of the criminal justice system, such as
    family court, landlord and tenant, by-law, provincial offences etc., are outside of
    scope
  • Victims of crime may be simultaneously dealing with civil and/or other legal issues.
    Staff and volunteers only assist the individual with respect to the criminal case
  • Examples
    • Divorce and separation
    • Landlord and tenant disputes
    • Insurance Claims

Assist General Public

  • Individuals requesting general support or resources, who are not victims of crime, are
    outside of scope
  • Examples
    • Homelessness
    • Substance abuse issues
    • Palliative/hospice support

General Disputes

  • Any type of conflict between individuals that has not resulted in a criminal charge
    being laid is out of scope unless it falls within the eligibility under criminal status/type
  • Example
    • Disputes between neighbours

Natural Disasters, Search and Rescue

  • Staff and volunteers of the RVSS in impacted communities are expected to follow
    evacuation orders
  • Note: the RVSS may be asked to provide other supports during major disasters as part
    of their Business Continuity Plan
  • Examples
    • Assisting individuals affected by forest fires, floods, avalanches, tornados, etc.
    • Assisting search and rescue teams

Matters under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act: Prohibited

RISK: Situation should be considered high risk to the safety of staff and volunteers of
the RVSS – Involvement in child related matters could result in legal consequences for
the RVSS, staff and volunteers.

  • Examples
    • Child apprehensions
    • Child custody
    • Other child protection matters
    • Childcare

Matters under the Mental Health Act and mental health services: Prohibited

RISK: Mental health apprehensions and mental health calls (i.e., attempted suicides,
welfare checks, suicidal individual) are unpredictable and are high risk to the safety of
staff and volunteers of the RVSS.

  • Examples
    • Mental health apprehensions
    • Mental health calls

Other out of scope situations include:

  • Transportation of victims and their families/friends
  • External group incident de-briefing
  • Child Care/Supervision

  • RVSS personnel attend with RCMP, unless they are on-site where other responsible providers are present (i.e. hospital)
  • RVSS response personnel must have a direct contact number for an RCMP member on-scene.
  • RVSS will NEVER respond in the following situations:
    • Victim is incapacitated by drugs and/or alcohol
    • Victim is experiencing a psychotic episode
    • Subject/offender is present at the crime scene
    • Location is not secured or deemed safe by RCMP

  • Information about programs and services available to victims of crime and individuals of tragic circumstances
  • Needs assessments to facilitate access and referrals for additional services (e.g. community, and government services, indigenous and other culturally specific agencies)
  • Information and referral to the victim’s assistance program
  • Assistance with completing applications and forms as appropriate
  • Provide information about safety planning
    • RCMP members are responsible for leading all safety planning activities with victims of crime, RVSS may assist as appropriate only
  • Navigation with obtaining emergency protection orders and restraining orders
    • RCMP members are responsible for leading or referring
  • Emotional support and debriefing
  • Crisis Intervention

Criminal

  • All situations where a person discloses that they are a victim of crime, regardless of
    whether the incident is reported to the police
  • All situations in involving a criminal incident, police involvement/police file, with a direct
    victim
  • All situations where Police suspect domestic, or family violence and no charges are laid.
    Police are to refer the individual they have reason to believe has suffered or is at risk
    (vulnerable) of suffering physical or emotional harm or economic loss as a result of an
    incident
  • Examples
    • Domestic/intimate partner violence
    • Family violence
    • Aggravated assault
    • Sexual assault
    • Homicide
    • Robbery
    • Property theft or damage
    • Vandalism

Undetermined

  • When it cannot be determined whether an incident is criminal or not at the time of the
    referral, it is deemed eligible for services
  • If at some point the incident is deemed to be not criminal in nature, the individual is given
    a warm hand off to an appropriate agency, as criminal justice support is not required.
  • Examples
    • Multi motor vehicle collision under investigation for impairment
    • Fire under investigation for arson

Tragic Circumstance

  • Police involved non-criminal, sudden, and unexpected death involving a next-of-kin (NOK)
    notification
  • Emotional support during/following the notification and information and referrals to
    appropriate agencies following the death of an individual are considered in scope
  • Examples
    • Death by suicide
    • Accidental death by motor vehicle collision

All individuals seeking assistance, whether by way of referral or otherwise, and who are not confirmed eligible for services, will be supported through a no wrong door approach when an appropriate service provider can be identified.

  • Assist with death notification and subsequent immediate emotional support (active listening)
  • Practical assistance (e.g. providing water, contacting a family member/friend, etc)
  • Providing referrals to access immediate support from community agencies and
  • Professional resources (e.g. assisting with finding a women’s shelter, etc)
  • Emotional support and resources for families or bystanders when present at scene of MVC
  • Providing information to resolve immediate concerns including:
    • The medical Examiner’s role
    • Victims of Crime Assistance Program (VAP) (e.g. funeral expense reimbursement, counselling, medical benefits)
    • Alberta Works
    • Note: additional information will normally be provided during follow-up within business hours
  • Providing consultation for follow-up procedures for the next business day