The Ministry of Justice is providing $267,000 in new annual funding to establish a Police-based Victim Services Program in central Saskatchewan.
Sask Central Victim Services Inc. will provide support and information to victims of crime and traumatic events throughout their involvement with the criminal justice process. The program is part of a province-wide expansion that will make victim services available to residents in all Saskatchewan police jurisdictions.
"This is one of the larger building blocks that make up the ongoing expansion of Victim Services in Saskatchewan" Justice Minister and Attorney General Gordon Wyant said. "It will ensure that victims of crime in this region have access to the necessary supports and services that were previously not available to them."
The funding will be provided through the Ministry of Justice's Victims Services Branch and will be used to deliver services in 15 police jurisdictions in central Saskatchewan. A Board of Directors has been established and will soon be recruiting four full-time program staff. The program will also benefit from the contributions of trained volunteer victim support workers that will be set up throughout the region.
Police-based Victim Services Programs work closely with police and provide information, support, and referrals to victims of crime and traumatic events. Services are largely delivered by nearly 300 volunteers around the province.
