Victim Services
Victim Services of the Department of Justice was created in 1989 as a vehicle to reduce the effects of crime on the people in Nova Scotia. Its purpose is as follows:
- to promote the rights of victims of crime and provide an avenue to address their needs
- to provide information and services to victims of crime and to raise community awareness on victims’ issues
- to work within Government, the criminal justice system and the community to develop and implement policies and programs for victims of crime
Victim Services has, as its roots, two pieces of legislation: Section 727.9 of the Criminal Code (1989) and the Victims’ Rights and Services Act (1990). These pieces of legislation created a surcharge to be imposed on both federal and provincial offences, the revenue of which is placed in a Victims’ Assistance Fund for research and services for victims of crime. The provincial Act also contains a victims’ bill of rights.
For information regarding federal programs and statistics for victims of crime, visit the Policy Centre for Victim Issues or Statistics Canada.