Federal Victims Strategy, Mid-term Evaluation
1. INTRODUCTION
1. INTRODUCTION
The federal Victims of Crime Initiative (VCI) was launched in March 2000. It was renewed in 2005 with a second mandate (2005-2010) with $25M in funding spread over five years. The 2006 federal budget committed an additional $7.6M per year for five years (2006-2011). In 2007, the Department of Justice used this additional funding to expand the VCI and create the Federal Victims Strategy (FVS).
In order to fulfil a central agency requirement to report on progress of the former VCI and the implementation of the FVS, a mid-term evaluation was conducted. The focus of the evaluation is on the activities undertaken in 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 with a view to providing information that will assist the Policy Centre for Victim Issues (PCVI) in strengthening the design and delivery of the FVS for the balance of its mandate.
1.1. Evaluation Objectives and Issues
The mid-term evaluation focuses on the achievement of short-term outcomes and the design of the FVS. The evaluation did not look at intermediate or long-term outcomes, as it is still too early to assess fully the impacts and effects of the FVS. The summative evaluation will examine the success (from the perspective of intermediate and long-term results), relevance and cost-effectiveness of the FVS.
The evaluation used the questions and issues identified in the 2007 Results-based Management and Accountability Framework (RMAF). More specifically, the evaluation assessed the appropriateness of the program design to support the achievement of FVS objectives; reviewed the structure and management of the PCVI; and examined the outputs generated and short-term outcomes achieved under the following key activity areas:
- grants and contributions through the Victims Fund;
- criminal law reform and policy development;
- Federal/Provincial/Territorial (FPT) Secretariat Coordination;
- developing and/or providing public legal education and information (PLEI) materials and products; and,
- building capacity of northern service providers.
1.2. Methodology
The evaluation was conducted by the Department of Justice Evaluation Division using in-house resources. The methodology consisted of: a file and document review including a data extraction from the Department’s Grants and Contributions Information Management System (GCIMS); a survey of 14 non-governmental member organizations from across the country that make up the Victims of Crime Advisory Committee; 28 key informant interviews with provincial, territorial and federal officials; and a survey of 18 successful and unsuccessful applicants to the Victims Fund.
The evaluation framework guided all aspects of the methodology to ensure that relevant information was applied to each research question and issue. A description of each of the data collection methods appears below.
1.2.1. File and Document Review
A number of reports, program documentation, databases and select files were reviewed including:
- Victims Fund files and GCIMS records;
- publications (communications, PLEI media releases, reports and articles, Websites);
- meeting minutes and records of decisions;
- relevant Research and Statistics Division and Programs Branch files and documents;
- completed evaluation work on the VCI;
- briefing notes;
- victims of crime research conducted/planned within the Department of Justice; and
- information from jurisdictions on services and activities collected by the PCVI.
1.2.2. Victims of Crime Advisory Committee Survey
A questionnaire was sent to all 14 members of the Victims of Crime Advisory Committee. The Committee, which is comprised of representatives from victim service providers, advocates and non-government organizations (NGOs), was established to identify concerns, develop options and strategies, share information and develop capacity to respond to victim needs. The survey obtained this stakeholder group’s feedback on the design and impacts of the FVS. Three members completed and returned a survey to the Evaluation Division.
1.2.3. Key Informant Interviews
FPT government key informant interviews were conducted as part of the evaluation. The interviews obtained feedback on the design and impacts of the FVS. Twenty-eight key informants participated in interviews between June and August 2007 and reflect the following government stakeholders:
- Department of Justice PCVI personnel (5);
- Provincial and territorial representatives, including directors of victim services and representatives of provincial/territorial justice departments (11);
- representatives from other Department of Justice branches and sections including the Aboriginal Justice Directorate, the Office of the Northern Region, and Criminal Law Policy (4); and,
- representatives from other federal departments including the National Parole Board (NPB), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC) (8).
1.2.4. Survey of Victims Fund Applicants
A questionnaire was sent to all applicants[1] (37) of the Victims Fund between April 1, 2005 and March 31, 2007, including those who were approved and denied funding. The questionnaire was not sent to recipients of financial assistance, as each recipient is sent a similar questionnaire when they receive their final payment[2]. The purpose of the questionnaire was to examine from the applicant's perspective: how effective the Department is in communicating the objectives of the Fund, whether it is efficient in administering the Fund, how useful the Fund is, how well it works, and how it might be improved. In total, 18 applicants responded to the Victims Fund Survey.
1.2.5 Additional Lines of Evidence
The mid-term evaluation also includes the results of sub-studies that were conducted by the Evaluation Division over the course of the two years under consideration. These sub-studies include:
- 2006 National Victims of Crime Awareness Week[3]
National Victims of Crime Awareness Week (NVCAW) was launched in April 2006 to encourage and support locally based and national events over the course of one week to raise awareness about victim issues; to recognize the dedication of those who work to support and assist victims; and to draw specific attention to advancements made respecting victim issues in Canada. This sub-study assessed the effectiveness of the week in raising awareness of participants with respect to victim issues.
- 2005 and 2006 training of Crown Witness Coordinators (CWCs) Feedback Surveys
In 2005/2006 and 2006/2007, two training events/meetings were organized for CWCs[4]. Generally an annual event, these were the fourth and fifth meetings that the PCVI had planned with the support of the Regional Directors in the North to respond to training and information needs of CWCs in the territories. The training topics were selected in consultation with the CWCs and Regional Directors in the territories. CWCs were asked to provide feedback about their funded conference attendance/training workshops.
- Survey of recipients of financial assistance to attend NPB hearings
This sub-study examined the extent to which the financial assistance components have resulted in reduced financial hardship and increased the willingness of victims to participate in the criminal justice system. The sub-study consisted of surveys with victims who have received financial assistance through the Fund to attend national parole hearings either as observers or to present a Victim Impact Statement. This sub-study began in 2005 and will continue through 2011; however, results from 2005 to 2007 are reported for the purpose of inclusion in the mid-term.
1.3. Organization of the Report
This report contains four sections including the present introduction (Section 1). Section 2 describes the FVS, including objectives of the FVS, and program resources. Section 3 presents the evaluation findings. Section 4 provides conclusions and presents the recommendations and management response.
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