Table of Contents: Victim Services
Disclaimer: This is for individuals who had faced criminal violence and would like to seek support through the VictimLinkBC system. In the future I will provide resources for those who prefer transformative or restorative justice approaches to conflict resolution. I acknowledge that carceral institutions are violent, and that Black, brown, Indigenous, poor, and queer communities have faced disproportionate harms because of the state's systemic violence through policing and prisons. Depending on the situation, it may not be safe to involve police, especially in cases regarding undocumented migrants, racialized and queer folks, or sex workers. Please think critically about the people involved, and always choose the solution that causes the least harm to already marginalized folks.
While not all trauma survivors are victims of crime, it is a possibility. There are several public programs and informational resources in place to assist victims of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse in reporting the perpetrator’s crimes and accessing legal, emotional, and financial assistance. Some of these programs require that an official police report be filed, but others can be accessed regardless. You should start by accessing this step-by-step guide detailing what to do if you are the victim of a crime in BC. Or, you can start by phoning VictimLinkBC if you would rather have someone guide you over the phone.
If the crime has caused financial, physical, or emotional harm, the Crime Victim Assistance Program can assist victims, family members, and witnesses in coping with the aftermath of a crime by providing financial benefits. This can include medical services, counselling, prescription drugs, childcare, disability aids, income support, transportation, funeral expenses and bereavement leave, and crime scene cleaning. Receiving benefits from this program requires filling out an application form within one year of the crime, except in special cases involving minors or sexual offences. You can apply for benefits before charges are laid or a conviction is made.