Objectives of the Victims Fund

The objectives of the Victims Fund are to:

• promote access to justice and participation by victims in the justice system;
• promote the development of law, policies and programs for victims;
• promote the implementation of principles, guidelines and laws designed to address the needs of victims of crime and articulate the victim’s role in the criminal justice system;
• increase knowledge and awareness of the impact of victimization, the needs of victims of crime, available services, assistance and programs, and relevant legislation;
• encourage governmental and non-governmental organizations to identify victim needs and gaps in services, and develop and deliver programs, services and assistance to victims;
• promote capacity-building within non-governmental organizations; and
• provide direct, limited, emergency financial assistance to individual victims in certain specified circumstances.

What are the components of the Victims Fund?

There are three components of the Victims Fund:

1. Provincial and Territorial implementation

   This component is designed to support the implementation of federal and provincial/territorial legislation for victims of crime, particularly provisions of the Criminal Code (such as victim impact statements, publication bans, restitution, victim surcharge, testimonial aids, etc.).  In addition, it supports provincial victims’ legislation and the Canadian Statement of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime through the development and enhancement of police, court, Crown or system-based victim assistance programs, conferences, public legal education and similar initiatives. This component is accessible only by provincial and territorial governments.  For more information, please call (613) 941-4193 or send us an E-mail: pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca.

2. Projects and Activities Component

   This component provides funding through grants and contributions to individuals, organizations, and governments to promote the objectives set out above. Funding supports projects and activities that encourage the development of new approaches, promote access to justice, improve the capacity of service providers, foster the establishment of referral networks, and/or increase awareness of services available to victims of crime and their families. 

   Project Funding

   The Project and Activities component also provides funding to support National Victims of Crime Awareness Week events. 

   National Victims of Crime Awareness Week

3. Financial Assistance Component

   Financial assistance is available to registered victims (as defined in the Corrections and Conditional Release Act), as well as a support person for each victim, to attend Parole Board of Canada hearings for the offender who harmed them. 

   Parole Board Hearings Button

   Emergency financial assistance is available to Canadian citizens victimized abroad, or their family members where the victim is dead, ill or incapacitated, who are faced with unusual or extreme hardship due to criminal victimization, where no other adequate source of financial assistance is available.

   Canadians Victimized Abroad

   The Victims Fund can help to pay travel costs and other related expenses if a family member of a murder victim attends a Criminal Code section 745.6 early parole eligibility hearing. The Fund will reimburse actual costs up to a maximum of $5,000 for one family member and a maximum of $2,500 for additional family members, with a maximum of $12,500 per family.  For more information, please call 1-888-606-5111 or send us an E-mail:pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca.

   In addition, a small component of the Fund provides emergency financial assistance to individual victims of crime or their surviving family members. Assistance may be available when the person faces unusual or extreme hardship as a result of the crime, and there is no other adequate source of financial assistance for the person.  For more information, please call 1-888-606-5111 or send us an E-mail:pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca.

Where is more information available?

For more information about the Victims Fund and how to apply, contact us:

Victims Fund Manager
Programs Branch
Department of Justice
284 Wellington
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H8

Telephone:
General Victims Fund: (613) 941-4193

Financial Assistance to attend Parole Board hearings: 1-866-544-1007

Canadians Victimized Abroad/Emergency Financial Assistance: 1-888-606-5111

E-mail: pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca

Fax: (613) 941-2269