Whether you are the direct victim of a crime or a close relative to someone who has been a direct victim (secondary victim), it is important not to stay alone.
Associations and groups exist to accompany and support you. Here are a few references that could point you to relevant therapeutic and juridical services:
- CAVACS – Crime Victims Assistance Centre
- CALACS – Centre for Prevention and Support for Victims of Sexual Crimes
- You may be eligible for financial compensation. For more information, please check Indemnisation des victimes d’actes criminels (IVAC).
- The CSJR has created a list of organizations with the purpose of supporting and helping victims of crime.
- If you are a victim of a sexual crime, a free helpline is available 24/7 at 1-888 933-9007, or at 514 933-9007 for the greater Montreal area.
If you need advice and support,the CSJR will be pleased to offer personalized suggestions.
What our Service Center for Restorative Justice can offer, once the shock has subsided and a certain transformation has begun, is support to help you continue on this path by participating in encounters with offenders, other victims and members of the community. If you are a close friend or relative of an offender, you may also participate. For more information on the victim-offender encounters, click here.
If you prefer, you may request to be paired with your direct offender for a victim-offender mediation if they are in a federal correctional facility through the Correctional Service Canada (CSC). You can find more information on their website.
Depending on available funding, CSJR may also offer weekend workshops: “The Strength of Our Indigenous Voices,” “Healing of Memories” and “Art Therapy Workshops”.
Rest assured we will support you through this very difficult period you are currently going through.