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

Appendix C: Self-Administered Questionnaire for Survey of Victim Advocacy Groups

  1. Please describe what work your organization does on behalf of victims.
  2. 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 victim services.

  3. 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  
  4. 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
  5. 4 a. For those items in Question 4 with which you disagree or strongly disagree, what could be done to improve the information given to victims?
  6. 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 servicess    		 1 2 3   8

    The following questions ask about federal legislative provisions that are intended to benefit victims.

  7. 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
  8. 6 a. If no, what are the obstacles to the consideration of victim safety?
  9. 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
  10. 7 a. If you answered yes to any part of Question 7, 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."

  11. Should Section 486 (2.3) be expanded? (Please check all that apply)
    • 1   Yes, to other victims  
    • 1   Yes, to other offences  
    • 2   No  
  12. 8 a. If yes to other victims and/or to other offences, please explain.

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

  13. 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  
  14. 9 a. If not, please explain.

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

  15. To your knowledge, are there any obstacles to the use of restitution?
    • 1   Yes
    • 2   No
    • 8   Don't know
  16. 10 a. If yes, please explain.
  17. To your knowledge, is the victim surcharge waived more often than it should be?
    • 1   Yes
    • 2   No
    • 8   Don't know
  18. 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)
  19. 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
  20. 13 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.

  21. Have you participated in a restorative justice approach?
    • 1   Yes
    • 2   No
    • 8   Don't know
  22. 14 a. If yes to Question 14, at what stage in the process have you participated in restorative justice? (Check all that apply)
    • 1   Pre-charge  
    • 2   Sentencing  
    • 3   Other (Specify)
  23. 14 b. If yes to Question 14, in your experience, which statement best describes the victim's involvement in the decision to use restorative justice?
    • 1   The victim is always involved  
    • 2   The victim is sometimes involved  
    • 3   The victim is seldom involved
  24. c. If no to Question 14, 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.

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

  26. Have there been any unintended or unexpected consequences to these provisions?
    • 1   Yes
    • 2   No
    • 8   Don't know
  27. 16 a. If yes, what are they?

  28. 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 at: