Victims Fund agreement with the Province of New Brunswick

Victims Fund

Providing the necessary supports and services to respond to the immediate and ongoing needs of victims, survivors, their families and their communities is an important part of a fair and accessible criminal justice system. The Victims Fund is a grants and contributions program administered by the Department of Justice Canada. Funds are made available each year to provinces, territories and non-governmental organizations whose projects and activities support the objectives of the Federal Victims Strategy.

The Victims Fund supports projects and activities that:

• enhance victim assistance programs across Canada;
• promote access to justice and participation in the justice system and the development of laws, policies, and programs;
• promote the implementation of principles, guidelines, and laws designed to address the needs of victims of crime and articulate their role in the criminal justice system;
• contribute to increased knowledge and awareness of the impact of victimization, the needs of victims of crime, available services, assistance and programs, and legislation; and
• promote, encourage and/or enhance governmental and non-governmental organizations' involvement in the identification of victims' needs and gaps in services, as well as in the development and delivery of programs, services and assistance to victims, including capacity building within non-governmental organizations.

In 2016-2017, the Fund will contribute more than $21 million to provincial and territorial governments and non-governmental organizations to increase awareness and knowledge of victim issues, legislation, and services available, as well as to develop and deliver victim programs, services, and assistance to meet gaps in services for victims of crime.

More information is available on the Department of Justice Canada's website.

Improving Services for Victims of Crime in New Brunswick

The Department of Justice Canada is contributing $3,433,500 over five years to advance victim services and access to justice for victims and witnesses, while giving victims a more effective voice in the criminal justice system in New Brunswick. The anticipated outcomes of the activities include:

Programs and Services:

• Victims of intimate partner violence will have greater awareness of information and more access to the resources, tools, and services that are available to assist them.
• An Aboriginal Domestic Violence Outreach Program will be implemented in First Nation communities in northern New Brunswick.
• There will be a model for coordinating community resources in response to very dangerous cases of intimate partner violence.
• Support group programs for victims of sexually based crimes will be enhanced.
• There will be safety planning tools for women living in abusive relationships, particularly in rural areas, as well as a safety plan for children.
• The Court Support Volunteer Program will be established to provide support services to children and vulnerable victims who testify in court.

Building capacity:

• There will be extra cameras in the courtroom to allow victims to identify the accused and also view the proceedings unimpeded while testifying from a separate room.
• An updated data management system will help ensure the quality of data and that appropriate performance measurements are in place.
• There will be a case management system, a data management system and a revised curriculum and policy and procedures manual to account for changes in legislation resulting from the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights.
• There will be specialized training for Victim Services Coordinators.

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October 2016
Department of Justice Canada