Financial Benefits

If you were injured as a direct result of a violent crime in Alberta, you may be eligible for a one-time financial benefit based on the severity of your injuries.  A monthly supplemental benefit may also be available for quadriplegia and the most severe brain injury victims.

You may be eligible for financial benefits if: 

• You have suffered physical or emotional injury as a direct result of being a victim of violent crime that occurred in Alberta
• The crime was reported to police within a reasonable period of time and the victim cooperates with the investigation into the incident
• The application for financial benefits is received within two years of the date of the incidents (in special circumstances there are exceptions to this deadline)
• The applicant cooperates with the Financial Benefits Program and provides authorization to make inquires and obtain the information necessary to make a decision on the application

The Criminal Injuries Review Board can conduct independent reviews of the financial benefits decisions.  This process can take about four months and all decisions are in writing.

Financial Benefits Injury Application and Death Benefit Applications are available from SRVSS.  Applications can be submitted to the financial benefits program by mail, fax or in person.  No email applications will be accepted. Contact the program at 780-427-7217.

Court Preparation and Accompaniment

If you receive a subpoena to be a witness at court, SRVSS will prepare you by providing court preparation and court accompaniment.  A volunteer advocate will accompany you to court to provide support and information on the proceedings.

Restitution

Restitution for victims of crime (click here for brochure) in the criminal justice system means payment by an offender to the victim for the harm caused by the offender's wrongful acts. 

If you have suffered financial loss as a result of a crime, you may have the right to seek restitution from the offender.  You will be asked to complete a Request for Restitution form which will be provided to you by SRVSS or a police officer.

Courts can order convicted offenders to pay restitution to victims as part of their sentence. Restitution can cover any out-of-pocket losses directly relating to the crime, including:

• Damage, destruction, and loss of property
• Bodily or psychological harm
• Expenses incurred in moving out of the offender’s house
• Losses incurred by unknowingly purchasing or lending money on stolen property

If you aren’t given a Request for Restitution form, please ask for one. Once you have filled out the form, return it to the police as soon as possible. The police will then send your form to the Crown Prosecutor who will determine whether an application will be made to the court. If the Crown decides not to make the application, you can ask the court to do so. If that is the case, you may wish to contact your own lawyer.

Victim Impact Statements

Under provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada and the Youth Criminal Justice Act, a Victim impact statement is intended to give victims of crime a voice in the criminal justice system; it allows victims to participate in the sentencing of the offender by explaining to the court and the offender, in their own words, how the crime has affected them.

The Criminal Code is clear – where a victim impact statement has been prepared, the sentencing judge must consider the statement. The judge must also ask, before imposing sentence, whether the victim has been told about the opportunity to prepare a victim impact statement.  Additional information is available in the Victim Impact Statement brochure.