VICTIMS' BILL OF RIGHTS
Are you a victim of crime? The Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, The Ontario’s Victims’ Bill of Rights, and The Criminal Code of Canada includes several rights and protections for victims, including: treating victims with courtesy and compassion respecting their dignity and privacy providing them with the information they need about criminal investigations and prosecutions.
THE CANADIAN VICTIMS' BILL OF RIGHTS
THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION
You have the right to ask for:
- Information about the criminal justice system and your case
- Programs and services available to victims
- Updates on the person who harmed you and conditions on their release
- The outcome of your case, the sentence, how long it lasts and when the offender is eligible for parole
THE RIGHT TO RESTITUTION
You have the right to:
- Ask the Court to make a restitution order against the offender
- Have the restitution order entered as a civil court judgement that you can then enforce against the offender
THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATION
You have the right to:
- Present an Impact Statement and have it considered by the court
- Share your views on decisions that affect your rights
THE RIGHT TO PROTECTION
You have the right to ask for:
- Criminal justice authorities to consider your security and privacy
- Protection from intimidation and retaliation
- A publication ban
- Special support in court (testimonial aids)
THE RIGHT TO MAKE A COMPLAINT
You have the right to:
- Make a complaint if you feel your rights as a victim were denied or not respected by federal or provincial agencies such as the police, Crown, or victim services
- Have your complaint reviewed in a timely fashion and be notified of the results
WHAT IS THE ONTARIO VICTIMS’ BILL OF RIGHTS?
The Ontario Victims' Bill of Rights, 1995 establishes a set of principles to support victims of crime throughout the justice process. It requires that victims be treated with courtesy, compassion, and respect for their personal dignity and privacy.
The Ontario Victims' Bill of Rights also specifies that victims should have information about:
- services and remedies available to them;
- financial compensation that might assist them;
- the progress of police investigations that relate to the crime;
- the charges laid with respect to the crime, and if no charges are laid the reasons why;
- procedures of the court and the victims' role in the prosecution;
- dates and places of court proceedings, and the outcome of the proceedings including any appeals;
- any pre-trial arrangements made with the accused that relate to the plea entered at the trial;
- the release of an accused on bail;
- the sentence given to an accused, if convicted;
- a decision that the accused is unfit to stand trial;
- their right to submit a victim impact statement; and
- notice of any application for the offender's release, and notice if the offender escapes.
The full text of the VBR can be found on the ServiceOntario e-Laws website.
VICTIMS' JUSTICE FUND
The Ontario Victims' Bill of Rights, 1995 establishes the Victims' Justice Fund, which is a dedicated fund that is used to support programs and services for victims of crime in Ontario. The money in the Victims' Justice Fund is collected from court-imposed fines under the Provincial Offences Act (mostly Highway Traffic Act violations excluding parking tickets) and the Criminal Code.