Your Rights

as a victim in BC

Under the British Columbia Victims of Crime Act:

It gives victims the right to:

  • Be treated fairly and with respect by all workers in the criminal justice system;

    Receive information about:

  • Victim services available to you

  • Benefits

  • Financial assistance for criminal injury

  • How the criminal justice system works

  • Your rights to privacy

  • If you are a victim of crime, you have a right, on request, to receive information from the criminal justice system including:

    • status of the police investigation;

    • charges laid against the accused;

    • outcome of court appearances; and

    • where applicable, the length of sentence, and location of the convicted offender

  • If you are a victim of crime, you have rights under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act:

    • to apply for access to information about yourself that is held in justice system files; and

    • to know what information obtained about you is protected from unauthorized use or disclosure.

  • If you or your immediate family member are the victim of a violent crime in British Columbia, the Crime Victim Assistance Act gives you the right to apply for benefits through the Crime Victim Assistance Program to help offset financial loss and assist in dealing with the impact of violent crime.

Under the Canadian Bill of Rights

If you are a victim of certain offences, including all offences under the Criminal Code, the federal Canadian Victims Bill of Rights provides you with the following rights. There are limitations to exercising these rights including that they must be exercised in a manner that is not likely to interfere with the proper administration of justice.

  • Victims have the right on request to receive general information about the criminal justice system, the victim services and programs available to them, including restorative justice programs, and their right to file a complaint if they believe their rights have been denied or infringed. Victims can also request certain case-specific information about the status and outcome of the investigation and prosecution.

  • Victims have the right to have their security and privacy considered at all stages of the criminal justice process and to have reasonable and necessary protection measures from intimidation and retaliation. Victims also have the right to ask for a testimonial aid or to have their identity protected when appearing as a witness at court appearances.

  • Victims have the right to present victim impact statements and have them considered in court. Victims also have the right to express their views about decisions that affect their rights.

  • Victims have the right to have the court consider making a restitution order and have an unpaid restitution order entered as a civil court judgment.