About the Service Victim Service Section

Victim Services Pamphlets

For more information, please read the following pamphlets:

Winnipeg Police
Victim Service Unit

WE WILL HELP YOU

986-6350

The Victim Service Section was established in 1982 to assist victims of crime and tragedy and their families by providing support, information and appropriate referrals.

Crime victimization may leave victims, families and friends – even the community around them – in a state of turmoil. Those impacted by crime begin to view the world around them differently following victimization and this affects a range of factors including the quality of their home lives, their social lives and often their general sense of security and well-being. While there may be significant financial loss or physical injury, often the most significant effect of crime is the psychological trauma caused by victimization and its aftermath.

Providing victims with a sense of safety, allowing them a chance for ventilation and validation and giving them timely and accurate information and referrals is the primary goal of the Victim Service Section. The area where the Section assists most often includes:

offering emotional support
providing police case information
providing information about the justice system
providing information about progress of cases through the courts
notifying victims of the police release of accused persons when non-communication orders apply
referring victims and their families to appropriate community resources for follow-up, including Justice-Based Victim Service Programs, Age and Opportunity, Osborne House and Klinic
educating the public and WPS members regarding victimization and the impact of crime as well as providing information regarding the role of the Victim Service Section

The Victim Service Section is made up of one police constable and three staff. As well, the Section has approximately 50 volunteer caseworkers who contact those impacted by crime and tragedy and/or their families by telephone and/or via a mail out. The hours of operation are from Monday – Thursday from 08:30 – 21:00 and Friday from 08:30 -16:30.

While referrals are obtained on a daily basis via internal means, the Victim Service Section also accepts referrals from citizens, community agencies and police officers.