Sample Scenario's How VRVSS Can Help

General Assault -

At the police station, 73 year-old Esther is sitting huddled in a chair, shaking and crying softly. She was walking home from Bingo as she has done for years. Two young men she didn't know came up to her, one on each side, and started calling her names, then shoving her. They blocked her way, started threatening to grab her purse, and laughed as she began to shake in terror. A middle-aged man came around the corner, saw what was happening, and shouted at the young men to stop. The young men ran away and the middle-aged man took Esther to the police station.

How we can help Esther

Court Support -

The victim/witness is a 76- year-old man whose home was invaded. The defendants are 2 young men in their late teens.

As a result of the invasion of his home, the man has become too afraid to go out of his home, but he is also afraid to be at home alone.

The man is physically frail and uses a cane. He also has a hearing aid. At the preliminary hearing, his testimony was a bit muddled and he can no longer remember some things clearly. He is worried about mixing up details when he is called to tell his story, but he is determined to do whatever it takes to convict 'those hoodlums.' His adult children have been supportive and came to stay with him for a few days when the incident occurred. They have also arranged for someone to stay in the house with him at night. However, his children live in another province and have busy lives that do not allow them to visit often.

How we can help the man

What we can do: General Assault Scenario

Achieve Contact

1. Introduce ourselves and explain what we do.

2. Reassure the victim that she is safe now. Boil down the immediate problem to its essentials

3. Ask the victim what is the most important thing right now.

Cope Actively with problem(s)

4. If the victim is injured, assist to get medical care.

5. Ask who she would like to accompany her to medical care and offer to accompany if there is no one else.

6. Ask victim if there is anyone we can call. Spouse, child. Etc.

7. Provide a personal safety brochure.

8. Ask the victim if she would like you to help develop a safety plan

Direct the follow-up if necessary

9. Help the victim identify family, friends, neighbors, co-workers etc. that could support her in the long term.

10. If appropriate, refer to a counselor.

11. Advise the victim of assistance that may be available through the justice system:

• Filling out a Victim Impact Statement
• Restitution if she suffered financial loss as a result of the assault
• Financial benefits if the assault caused injury

12. Advise the victim that she may be asked to view a line-up

13. Advise that you are available to accompany her to court if she would like

14. Provide the victim with written information about being a witness and the justice system process.

What we can do: Court Support Scenario

1. Court support - A victim advocate may assist a victim/witness who appears in court. This support may have up to three phases:

i) Court orientation - helping the victim/witness get ready for the experience of appearing in court

ii) Court accompaniment - going with a victim/witness to court.

iii) Court follow up - ensuring the victim/witness has follow-up information and assistance as appropriate

2. Two purposes of court orientation - Court orientation is intended to assist a victim/witness to:

i) Understand the court environment and court process

ii) Cope with the stressors of the situation

3. Court accompaniment involves providing information and support to the victim/witness prior to, during, and immediately after the court appearance and includes:

i) Making sure the Crown prosecutor and victim have the required paperwork.

ii) Getting to court - ensuring the victim/witness has transportation, knows about parking, etc.

iii) Accompanying the victim/witness to check in.

iv) Assisting while the victim/witness is waiting to testify.

v) Assisting immediately after the victim/witness leaves the courtroom.

4. Court follow up happens after the trial and sentencing, and may continue after sentencing to assist a victim in interactions with the Correctional system. Court follow-up includes

i) Supporting the victim at the time of verdict.

ii) If the offender is found guilty, supporting the victim at the time of sentencing.

iii) Providing information about what information the victim if entitled to receive from the correctional system, regarding the offender status and location.

iv) Informing the victim of what information the victim is entitled to provide to the Parole Board.

Services At A Glance