Multi-Site Survey of Victims of Crime and Criminal Justice Professionals across Canada : Summary of Victim Services Providers and Victim Advocacy Group Respondents

Appendix B: Self-Administered Questionnaire for Survey of Victim Services Providers

  1. What role do you believe victims should have in the following stages of the criminal justice process?
      Victim should be
    informed
    consulted    		 Other (specify) Victims should not have any role
    Bail decisions 1  2 3 00
    Plea negotiations 1  2 3 00
    Sentencing decisions 1  2 3 00

    The following questions ask about your victim services organization and other victim services in your community.

  2. How would you describe your organization? (Please check all that apply)
      Yes No
    Police-based victim services 1 2
    Court-based victim services 1 2
    Community-based victim services 1 2
    System-based victim services 1 2
    Specialized victim services for domestic violence 1 2
    Specialized victim services for sexual assaults 1 2
    Specialized victim services for children 1 2
    Other (please specify)
    		 1 2
  3. Does your organization generally provide the following services to victims: (Check "Yes" or "No" for each of the following)
      Yes No  Don't know
    Provide crisis support 1 2 8
    Provide counselling 1 2 8
    Make referrals 1 2 8
    Inform victims about the police investigation 1 2 8
    Inform victims about the criminal justice system 1 2 8
    Inform victims about court procedures 1 2 8
    Inform victims about bail outcomes, when appropriate 1 2 8
    Help victims prepare to testify in court 1 2 8
    Inform victims about victim impact statements 1 2 8
    Accompany victims to court 1 2 8
    Inform victims of the opportunity to request restitution 1 2 8
    Help victims prepare forms to request restitution 1 2 8
    Liaise with Crown attorneys 1 2 8
    Inform the police, Crown, or court of victims' safety concerns when accused released on bail 1 2 8
  4. What other victim services are available in your community?
      Yes No Don't know
    Police-based victim services 1 2 8
    Crown-based victim services 1 2 8
    Community-based victim services 1 2 8
    System-based victim services 1 2 8
    Specialized victim services for domestic violence 1 2 8
    Specialized victim services for sexual assaults 1 2 8
    Specialized victim services for children 1 2 8
    Other (Specify)
    		 1 2 8
    Other (Specify)
    		 1 2 8
  5. Do victims of crime face any of the following challenges in accessing victim services in your community?
      Yes No  Don't know If yes, please explain
    Lack of victim services because of rural location 1 2 8  
    Language barriers 1 2 8  
    Physical barriers for persons with disabilities 1 2 8  
    Financial barriers 1 2 8  
    Services do not respond to cultural needs (e.g., lack of Aboriginal victim services) 1 2 8  
    Services do not respond to needs of both genders 1 2 8  

    The next questions ask about information provided to victims of crime.

  6. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following:
    Victims usually receive adequate information on… Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree Don't know
    The progress of the investigation 4 3 2 1 8
    Outcomes of bail decisions 4 3 2 1 8
    Conditions of release 4 3 2 1 8
    Date and location of court proceedings 4 3 2 1 8
    Charges laid 4 3 2 1 8
    Charges dropped 4 3 2 1 8
    Victim impact statements 4 3 2 1 8
    Restitution 4 3 2 1 8
    The ultimate outcome of the case 4 3 2 1 8
    The criminal justice process 4 3 2 1 8
    Alternative processes, such as diversion and restorative justice 4 3 2 1 8
    Rights of accused 4 3 2 1 8
    Victim services 4 3 2 1 8
    Other community support services 4 3 2 1 8
  7. a.For those items in Question 6 with which you disagree or strongly disagree, what could be done to improve the information given to victims?
  8. Who should provide the following information to victims? (Please check all that apply)
      Crown Police Victim services Other (Specify) Don't know
    The progress of the investigation 1 2 3 8
    Outcomes of bail decisions 1 2 3 8
    Conditions of release 1 2 3 8
    Date and location of court proceedings 1 2 3 8
    Charges laid 1 2 3 8
    Charges dropped 1 2 3 8
    Victim impact statements 1 2 3 8
    Restitution 1 2 3 8
    The ultimate outcome of the case 1 2 3 8
    The criminal justice process 1 2 3 8
    Alternative processes, such as diversion and restorative justice 1 2 3 8
    Rights of accused 1 2 3 8
    Victim services 1 2 3 8
    Other community support services 1 2 3 8
  9. Please describe the extent to which your organization works together or shares information with the following.
      Please describe extent
    of collaboration, if any    		 Do not work together or share information
    Other victim services or
    community organizations    		   00
    Police   00
    Crown   00
    The following questions ask about federal legislative provisions that are intended to benefit victims.
  10. Do you think that the victim's safety is generally considered in a decision about bail and conditions on release?
    • 1 Yes
    • 2 No
    • 8 Don't know
  11. a. If no, what are the obstacles to the consideration of victim safety?
  12. Are there any obstacles to using the following testimonial aids?
      Yes No Don't know
    Publication bans in cases other than sexual offences 1 2 8
    Exclusion of the public from a trial 1 2 8
    A screen for young witnesses or witnesses with a mental or physical disability 1 2 8
    Closed-circuit television for young witnesses or witnesses with a
    mental or physical disability    		 1 2 8
    Pre-trial videotaped testimony for young witnesses or witnesses
    with a mental or physical disability    		 1 2 8
    Support person to accompany a young witness under
    the age of 14 or witnesses with a mental or physical disability    		 1 2 8
  13. 10 a.If you answered yes to any part of Question 10, please explain.

    Publication bans in cases other than sexual offences

    Exclusion of the public from a trial

    A screen for young witnesses or witnesses with a mental or physical disability

    Closed-circuit television for young witnesses or witnesses with a mental or physical disability

    Pre-trial videotaped testimony for young witnesses or witnesses with a mental or physical disability

    Support person to accompany a young witness under the age of 14 or witnesses with a mental or physical disability

    Section 486 (2.3) of the Criminal Code states that, unless required by "the proper administration of justice," a self-represented accused cannot cross-examine a child witness (under 18 years of age). This section is applicable to proceedings where an accused is charged with a sexual offence, a sexual assault under sections 271, 272, and 273, or where violence against the victim is "alleged to have been used, threatened, or attempted."

  14. Should Section 486 (2.3) be expanded? (Please check all that apply)
    • 1 Yes, to other victims
    • 2 Yes, to other offences
    • 8 No
  15. 11 a.If yes to other victims and/or to other offences, please explain.

    The next several questions ask you to consider victim impact statements. As you know, victim impact statements can be submitted for use at sentencing or at parole.

  16. Based on your experience, do victims usually submit victim impact statements?
    • At sentencing
      • 1 Yes
      • 2 Yes, in serious cases
      • 3 No
      • 8 Don't know
    • At parole
      • 1 Yes
      • 2 Yes, in serious cases
      • 3 No
      • 8 Don't know
  17. What are the most common methods for submitting a victim impact statement? (Check all that apply)
    • At sentencing
      • 1 Written statement only
      • 2 Victim reads statement
      • 3 Crown reads statement
      • 66 Other (Specify)
      • 8 Don't know
    • At parole
      • 1 Written statement only
      • 2 Victim reads statement in person
      • 3 Victim presents statement via audiotape or videotape
      • 66 Other (Specify)
      • 8 Don't know
  18. Do you think that most victims are made aware of victim impact statements?
    At sentencing 1 Yes 2 No 8 Don't know
    At parole 1 Yes 2 No 8 Don't know
  19. a.If not, what can be done to better inform victims?
  20. When is the best time to inform victims about victim impact statements for use at sentencing? (Check all that apply)
    • 1 As soon as possible after the crime
    • 2 After someone is arrested and charged
    • 3 Just before the trial is scheduled
    • 66 Other (Specify)
  21. Do you assist victims with victim impact statements?
    • 1 Yes, at sentencing
    • 2 Yes, at parole
    • 3 At both sentencing and parole
    • 4 No
    • 8 Don't know

    ±1 ±2 Yes, at parole ±3 At both sentencing and parole ±4 No ±8 Don't know

  22. 16 a.If yes to Question 16, what types of assistance do you provide? (Please check all types of assistance you provide)
      At sentencing At parole
    Providing victim impact statement forms 1 2
    Informing victims where forms can be obtained 1 2
    Explaining instructions on how to complete victim impact statements 1 2
    Explaining the kinds of information that can be included in victim impact statements 1 2
    Helping complete the statement (write down what victim says) 1 2
    Helping with drafting statement (assist victim with formulating his/her thoughts) 1 2
    Reviewing completed victim impact statements 1 2
    Informing victims where completed statements should be sent 1 2
    Collecting completed victim impact statements 1 2
    Submitting completed victim impact statements to Crown 1 2
    Other (Specify)
    		 1 2
    Other (Specify)
    		 1 2
  23. Are there any obstacles to the use of the victim impact statement (e.g., in preparing, submitting, or delivering the statement)?
    • At sentencing
      • 1 Yes
      • 2 No
      • 8 Don't know
    • At parole
      • 1 Yes
      • 2 No
      • 8 Don't know
  24. 16 a.If yes, please explain.

    The following questions ask about restitution, the victim surcharge, and conditional sentences.

  25. Based on your experience, do victims who are eligible usually ask for restitution?
    • 1 Yes
    • 2 No
    • 8 Don't know
  26. Are there any obstacles to the use of restitution?
    • 1 Yes
    • 2 No
    • 8 Don't know
  27. a.If yes, please explain.
  28. Based on your experience, is the victim surcharge waived more often than it should be?
    • 1 Yes
    • 2 No
    • 8 Don't know
  29. In what types of cases do you think a conditional sentence is appropriate? (Check all that apply)
    • 1 All offences
    • 2 Non-violent offences
    • 3 Offences against the person
    • 4 Family violence offences
    • 5 Murder
    • 66 Other (Specify)
  30. Do you think that the victim's safety is generally considered in a decision to impose a conditional sentence?
    • 1 Yes
    • 2 No
    • 8 Don't know
  31. 22 a.If not, what are the obstacles to the consideration of victim safety?

    Restorative justice considers the wrong done to a person as well as the wrong done to the community. Restorative justice programs involve the victim(s) or a representative, the offender(s), and community representatives. The offender is required to accept responsibility for the crime and take steps to repair the harm he or she has caused.

  32. Have you participated in a restorative justice approach?
    • 1 Yes
    • 2 No
    • 8 Don't know
  33. 23 a. If yes to Question 23, at what stage in the process have you participated in restorative justice? (Check all that apply)
    • 1 Pre-charge
    • 2 Sentencing
    • 8 Other (Specify)
  34. 23 b. If yes to Question 23, in your experience, which statement best describes the victim's involvement in the decision to use restorative justice?
    • 1The victim is always involved
    • 2The victim is sometimes involved
    • 3The victim is seldom involved
  35. c. If no to Question 23, why have you not participated in any restorative justice? (Check all that apply)
    • 1 Restorative justice approaches are not available
    • 2 Restorative justice approaches do not protect the victim adequately
    • 3 Restorative justice approaches do not act as a deterrent
    • 66 Other (Specify)

    The concluding questions ask you to consider all of the Criminal Code provisions intended to benefit victims.

  36. Do you think that victim services personnel are adequately informed of the provisions in the Criminal Code intended to benefit victims?
    • 1 Yes
    • 2 No
    • 8 Don't know
  37. 24 a. If not, what could be done to better inform victim services workers?

  38. In your opinion, what has been accomplished by the Criminal Code provisions intended to benefit victims?

  39. Have there been any unintended or unexpected consequences to these provisions?
    • 1 Yes
    • 2 No
    • 8 Don't know
  40. 26 a. If yes, what are they?

  41. Do you have any other comments?

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Please return the questionnaire by faxing it back to us toll-free