Ontario. Ministry of the Attorney General - Waterloo Region

Information and assistance to support participation in and understanding of the criminal court process. Services begin once police have laid charges and continue until the court case is over. Services include:

• information about victims' rights, the criminal justice process and their specific case (e.g., court dates)
• needs assessment and referrals to community agencies, including Indigenous and other culturally specific agencies
• crisis intervention, trauma-informed support, victim advocacy
• facilitates victim's input and liaises with Crown Attorneys, police, regarding bail, safety, resolution of charges, release conditions, publication bans, testimonial aids, trial preparation and court orientation
• arranges for interpreters and accessibility accommodations
• information and support on Victim Impact Statements, Statement on Restitution
• facilitates access to court orders, such as bail conditions, probation orders, peace bonds
• debriefing and follow-up support

Vulnerable Victims and Family Fund (VVFF) -- Helps support victims of crime, including families of homicide victims and motor vehicle fatalities resulting in criminal charges, participate more fully in the criminal court process by providing financial assistance and court-based supports for:

• travel to attend key court dates
• language interpretation services
• special accommodations for victims with disabilities, such as real-time captioning
• necessities for victims of human trafficking or gun and gang violence while attending court

• Victims and witnesses of:
  • Intimate partner violence
  • Child physical and sexual abuse
  • Sexual assault (including historical sexual assault)
  • human trafficking
• Families of motor vehicle fatalities
• Families of homicide victims
• Elderly victims
• Victims with disabilities
• Victims of hate crime

• Abuse / Assault - Child Abuse Services
• Abuse / Assault - Counselling for People Experiencing Abuse
• Abuse / Assault - Sexual Assault Support
• Abuse / Assault - Shelter for Women Experiencing Abuse
• Abuse / Assault - Victims of Abuse Support Programs
• Emergency / Crisis - Victims of Crime Support Programs