Media Campaign Highlights Services Available for Victims of Crime

Radio and television commercials have been playing throughout the province which highlight the help available for victims of crime through Victim Services of the Department of Justice. Victim Services provides province-wide assistance from 11 locations in Newfoundland and Labrador helping those individuals who have experienced crime. This free and confidential justice service treats victims with courtesy, compassion and respect and aims to have victims experience minimal inconvenience through their involvement with the justice system.

“Victims do not choose to be victims and their experiences with crime can be life-altering,” said the Honourable Felix Collins, Minister of Justice and Attorney General. “Victim Services offers important support that can lessen impacts of crime and help victims work through the healing process. Staff are highly dedicated and compassionate and it is our hope that this educational campaign will help victims reach out and ask for the help that they may need to heal.”

The radio and television commercials showcase some of the services offered through Victim Services including pre-court preparation, assistance with victim impact statements and helping children who have to testify in criminal proceedings.

The launch of the commercials precedes the seventh annual National Victims of Crime Awareness Week (NVCAW) which will be commemorated across Canada from April 22 to 28, 2012. The theme chosen for NVCAW 2012 is Moving Forward.

“This is a particularly fitting theme as the overall goal for any victim services organization is helping victims move forward in their lives,” said Minister Collins. “Moving forward will mean different things for different people but the goal is that victims can maintain hope for the future and rebuild their lives. Victims of crime will do this in different ways depending on the individual and the situation but Victim Services is available to help meet the needs of each victim.”

The Department of Justice was able to access funding to produce the media campaign through the Victims Fund from the Department of Justice Canada. To listen and view the radio and television commercials or to find out how to access help from Victim Services, please visit www.victimserviceshelp.ca.

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Media contact:
Vanessa Colman-Sadd
Director of Communications
Department of Justice
709-729-6985, 682-6593
vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca

2012 04 20                           10:50 a.m.