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Federal
Government - Statement of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime,
2003
In honour of the United
Nations’ Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime,
and with concern for the harmful impact of criminal victimization on
individuals and on society, and in recognition that all persons have the full
protection of rights guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms and other provincial Charters governing rights and freedoms; that
the rights of victims and offenders need to be balanced; and of the shared
jurisdiction of federal, provincial, and territorial governments, the federal,
provincial, and territorial Ministers Responsible for Criminal Justice agree
that the following principles should guide the treatment of victims,
particularly during the criminal justice process.
The following principles are
intended to promote fair treatment of victims and should be reflected in
federal/provincial/territorial laws, policies and procedures:
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Victims of crime should be treated
with courtesy, compassion, and respect.
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| 2. |
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The privacy of victims should be
considered and respected to the greatest extent possible.
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All reasonable measures should be
taken to minimize inconvenience to victims.
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The safety and security of victims
should be considered at all stages of the criminal justice process and
appropriate measures should be taken when necessary to protect victims from
intimidation and retaliation.
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Information should be provided to
victims about the criminal justice system and the victim’s role and
opportunities to participate in criminal justice processes.
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Victims should be given information,
in accordance with prevailing law, policies, and procedures, about the status
of the investigation; the scheduling, progress and final outcome of the
proceedings; and the status of the offender in the correctional system.
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Information should be provided to
victims about available victim assistance services, other programs and
assistance available to them, and means of obtaining financial
reparation.
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The views, concerns and
representations of victims are an important consideration in criminal justice
processes and should be considered in accordance with prevailing law, policies
and procedures.
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The needs, concerns and diversity of
victims should be considered in the development and delivery of programs and
services, and in related education and training.
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Information should be provided to
victims about available options to raise their concerns when they believe that
these principles have not been followed.
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