Victim Services in Ontario

Overview

If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, learn more about how to get help.

The government of Ontario supports victims of crime by:

• providing direct services through the Victim/Witness Assistance Program
• funding community agencies that support victims, such as Sexual Assault Centres and Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario

Ontario Victim Services (OVS) provides administrative oversight of programs for victims and advisory agencies like the Office for Victims of Crime, that provides advice to the minister on victims’ issues.

Many victim service agencies are funded through special purpose resources, such as the Victims’ Justice Fund (VJF).

The Office for Victims of Crime

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is an advisory body, created by Ontario’s Victims Bill of Rights, that provides advice to the Attorney General on victims’ issues.

Learn more about the OVC, including its members and its work.

Ontario Victim Services

Ontario Victim Services (OVS) works to ensure that victims of crime are treated with respect and receive the information and services they need in the communities where they live.

OVS provides direct services to victims of crime across Ontario and funds community organizations that deliver support services to victims. They provide leadership for victims in:

• policy development
• program design
• frontline service delivery

Learn more about programs for victims in Ontario.

The Victims’ Justice Fund

The Victims’ Justice Fund (VJF) is an important source of funding for key victim services programming in Ontario.

Under Ontario’s Victims’ Bill of Rights, money paid into the VJF is used to help victims of Criminal Code offences. The fund supports programs that provide services to victims and makes grants to community agencies that help victims.

The funding from the VJF does not provide:

• direct compensation to victims in the absence of a pre-existing program
• funding for programs designed to prevent people from becoming victims of crime

The VJF is composed of victim fine surcharges on Provincial Offences Act fines (but not parking tickets) and by federal victim surcharges under the Criminal Code of Canada. Approximately $44 –$50 million is collected annually in the VJF. Revenues from victim fine surcharge that are added to provincial offences fines represent approximately 90% of annual revenue into the VJF.

The VJF supports a broad range of programs and services to support the needs of victims of crime and initiatives that respond to diverse communities, including:

• sexual assault victims
• child victims
• male survivors of sexual abuse
• victims of domestic violence
• support services for Indigenous communities

Learn more about programs and services supported by the Victims Justice Fund.

Claims for property or money taken by the civil courts or administrative forfeiture

If you were a victim of an offence where property was forfeited (taken) by the civil courts because it was used for or results from unlawful activity, you may be eligible for compensation through the government of Ontario.

Learn more about programs that provide funding and support for victims.

Victim Services Directory and Support Line

Ontario maintains a directory of the programs and services available to victims across the province.

For additional information about victim services or to find a service provider near you, you can:

• visit the online Victim Services Directory
• call the Victim Support Line at 416-314-2447 or Tel: 1-888-579-2888
• chat online Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Eastern Time

The Victim Support Line and online chat is available 24/7 and if required, interpreters are available.

Victim services offices and contact

Head office

720 Bay Street, 5^th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 2S9
Tel: 416-325-3265