Victims Fund

Overview

The Victims Fund, co-managed by the Policy Centre for Victims Issues and Programs Branch supports a wide range of projects and activities designed to improve the experience of victims in the criminal justice system. 

For more information on the Policy Centre of Victims Issues as well as issues of importance to victims in the criminal justice system, please visit the web site of the Policy Centre for Victims Issues.

The Objectives of the Fund are:

• to promote access to justice and participation by victims in the justice system;
• to promote the development of law, policies and programs for victims;
• to encourage other levels of government to implement principles, guidelines and laws designed to address the needs of victims of crime and articulate the victim’s role in the criminal justice system;
• to increase knowledge and awareness of the impact of victimization, the needs of victims of crime, available services, assistance and programs, and relevant legislation;
• to encourage governmental and non-governmental organizations to identify victim needs and gaps in services, and develop and deliver programs, services and assistance to victims;
• to promote capacity-building within non-governmental organizations; and
• to provide direct, limited, emergency financial assistance to:
  • individual victims of crime in exceptional circumstances for emergency situations of undue hardship where no other source of financial assistance is available
  • family members of victims of homicide who incur expenses to attend Criminal Code section 745.6 early parole eligibility hearings.
• to provide financial assistance to individual Canadian victims of a specified serious violent crime in a foreign jurisdiction for emergency situations of undue hardship where no other source of financial assistance is available (specified crimes are homicide, sexual assault, aggravated assault or assault with serious personal violence, including against a child) http://canada.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/pcvi-cpcv/fun-fin2.html.
• to provide financial assistance to individual victims of offenders under federal jurisdiction/supervision who incur expenses to attend National Parole Board hearings in respect of the offender. Information on Financial Assistance for Victims to Attend National Parole Board Hearings can also be obtain by calling 1-866-544-1007 http://canada.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/pcvi-cpcv/fun-fin2.html
• to provide financial assistance to an individual support person to attend or support registered victims to attend National Parole Board hearings http://canada.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/pcvi-cpcv/fun-fin2.html.

There are three components of the Victims Fund. These components directly support the objectives of the Victims of Crime Initiative:

1. Provincial and Territorial implementation:
   This component of the Victims Fund is designed to encourage implementation of federal and provincial/territorial legislation for victims of crime including Criminal Code provisions, such as victim impact statements, testimonial aids.  It also supports the adherence to the Canadian Statement of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime.  Only provinces and territories are eligible for funding under this component.
2. Projects and Activities Component:
   This component makes funding available, through grants and contributions, to governmental and non-governmental organizations. Projects and activities eligible for funding include those that encourage the development of new approaches, promote access to justice for victims of crime, improve the capacity of victim service providers, foster the establishment of referral networks and/or increase awareness of services available to victims of crime and their families.
   
   The Project and Activities component also provides funding to support the organization of  National Victims of Crime Awareness Week events http://canada.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/pcvi-cpcv/fun-fin2.html
3. Financial Assistance Component:
   This component provides financial assistance to victims of crime in specific circumstances as outlined above.  For more information on applying for financial assistance please access the funding site of the PCVI.

Please Note: The Victims Fund does not provide compensation to victims of crime. Some provinces and territories have programs to provide compensation. Links to provincial governments can be found at http://canada.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/pcvi-cpcv/fun-fin.html

ADDITIONAL FUNDING INFORMATION

Activities

The types of projects that could receive funding include:

• projects to assist victims of crime;
• projects to increase awareness and access to services for victims, with a focus on those in northern and rural communities; and
• projects to enhance the capacity of victim service providers, and to set up and implement referral networks, public-education projects and training.

Who is eligible?

• not-for-profit agencies and organizations;
• individuals;
• educational institutions;
• bands and tribal councils;
• non-governmental organizations;
• provincial, territorial, municipal and regional governments;
• private-sector organizations sponsoring non-profit projects; and
• governmental and non-governmental international organizations of which Canada is a member.

Other Points to Consider

Project funding under the Projects and Activities Component can be, and often is, accessed in conjunction with other program funding. Applications will be reviewed carefully to determine linkages to other initiatives/programs so that funding can be shared when appropriate.  As well funds are limited; it is not possible to fund all projects that meet the eligibility criteria. Projects that demonstrate that they can best meet the information needs of the Department will be given priority consideration.

More funds are requested than there are funds available. A project has a greater chance of securing funding if there are other funding partners and there is demonstrated support from organizations in the community. Often, the Victims Fund cannot cover the full cost of a project and can only contribute toward the cost. The Victims Fund generally limits funding to a maximum of $50,000, with most projects receiving between $25,000 and $50,000.

How to Apply

If you are applying for Emergency Financial Assistance for Canadians Victimized Abroad or Financial Assistance for Victims to Attend National Parole Board Hearings, please use the specific application form links found on the site of the Policy Centre for Victims Issues.

To submit a request for funding under the Victims Fund, we suggest that you complete the Application/Proposal Form: HTML/ Application/Proposal Form in Adobe PDF Format (106 kb).

An MSWord version of the Application Form is available on request to pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca.

We suggest that you refer to the guide entitled "How to Apply for Funding - A Guide to Preparing a Proposal" before completing your application. The guide provides detailed information on all the items that you are required to address in the application form.

Official Languages

In support of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act the Department is committed to facilitate the participation of official language minority communities and their organizations in the development and assessment of the Department's policies, programs and services having significant impact on the development of the communities; and to take measures to ensure that the Department of Justice's programs and services reach official language minority communities. In the context of project funding, these measures include:

• Outreach to official language minority communities to enhance their understanding of the Department of Justice funding programs
• Encouraging contacts between organizations that are receiving financial assistance and official language minority organizations/groups to ensure that the needs of these communities are taken into consideration in relation to the proposed projects to be considered for Department of Justice Canada funding.

Sustainable Development

We encourage you to submit your application electronically.  If you submit your application on paper, please consider printing on both sides of the paper.  These actions will minimize environmental impacts.

Send the application form by:

1. mail to:
   Programs Branch
   Department of Justice Canada
   284 Wellington Street, 6th Floor
   Ottawa, Ontario
   K1A 0H8
2. Telephone: 613-941-4193
   fax at 613 941-2269
3. Please provide an electronic version of the application form
   e-mail at pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca

Contact Information

For further information about the Victims Fund:

Programs Branch
Department of Justice Canada
284 Wellington Street, 6th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario
CANADA
K1A 0H8

Telephone: 613 957-9581
Fax: 613 941-2269
E-mail: pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca
Financial Assistance to attend NPB hearings: 1-866-544-1007