Goals of the Central Alberta Victim & Witness Support Society:
-
Lessen the immediate impact of a crime on a victim
-
Help victims cope with the effects of a crime by providing support, information and referrals to existing social agencies
-
Focus on the prevention of further victimization and provide encouragement to the victim
-
Help to increase the "availability time" of RCMP Members and be of service to investigators by providing assistance to the victim during the investigation of a crime
-
Actively participate in preventative crime deterrents with potential victims
-
Promote positive liaisons between RCMP Members, Court systems and the victim
-
Promote ongoing public awareness
Guiding Principles for Helping Victims:
-
To treat victims with courtesy and compassion and respect their dignity and privacy so they only suffer the minimum inconvenience from their involvement with the criminal justice system
-
To ensure victims receive prompt and fair attention for the harm they have suffered
-
To provide information regarding the victim’s rights, remedies and the methods to obtain them
-
To provide information to the victims about their participation in criminal proceedings, scheduling and disposition
-
To ascertain the views and concerns of the victims and provide the appropriate assistance throughout the criminal process
-
To ensure the personal interests, views and concerns of the victim are brought to the attention of the court where appropriate and consistent with criminal law and procedure
-
To provide options to the victims and their families to ensure their safety
-
To inform the victim of health and social services and other relevant assistance
-
To encourage victims to report the crime and cooperate with law enforcement
-
To provide well-trained volunteers who are able to maintain the integrity of the Central Alberta Victim & Witness Support Society and that all contact with members, victims and the public at large is kept confidential