The Regina Police Service Victim Services Unit assists victims of crime and traumatic events by providing them with information, support, and referral services in a sensitive and timely manner. The primary focus is on crimes against persons (violent crime, and incidents involving serious injury or death).
Some of the services provided are:
- Supportive Listening
- Police investigation updates for victims
- Court and offender information and accompaniment to court if required
- Information regarding Victim Compensation, Restitution, Victim Impact Statements and the Criminal Justice System
- Crime Prevention information
- Referral to community resources and other police agencies
The Victim Services Unit as a whole provides information, support and referral services to all victims. Within the unit, there are individuals who provide these services with an individualized focus.
Missing Person Liaison
Missing Persons Liaison provides direct support with a specific focus on families of missing persons. They provide specialized support and referrals that are suitable: ie: search and rescue procedures, Missing Persons Legislation, etc.
Indigenous Resource Officer
Indigenous Resource Officers provide direct support with a specific focus on those in the Indigenous community. They provide cultural support and sensitivity, as well as referrals that are suitable: ie an elder, etc.
Victim Service Responder
Victim Service Responder provides direct support with a specific focus on children and their families. They work out of the Regina Children’s Justice Centre and provide specialized support and referrals that are suitable for young people.
The Victim Services Unit is made up of both full-time employees, and volunteers. Volunteers are highly trained community members who have undergone an extensive security clearance to provide services for victims in a sensitive and confidential manner. All Volunteer Support Workers working in the Regina Police Service Victim Services Unit participate in a comprehensive training program relating to victimology issues, police procedures, crime prevention, the criminal justice system and Regina community resources for referral purposes.
The Victim Services Unit strives to:
- To lessen the immediate and long-term effects of crime experienced by victims.
- To minimize the trauma experienced by victims of a traumatic event.
- To help victims of crime and traumatic events cope with the incidents.
- To develop and maintain a directory of referral agencies and to ensure that referral information is readily available to victims.
- To minimize any re-victimization of victim/witnesses as a result of their involvement in the criminal justice system.
- To enhance and coordinate the communication and flow of information between the victim, the police and the criminal justice system.
- To assist the Regina Police Service in providing a sensitive and comprehensive service to victims and to the community.