Assisting Victims of Intimate Partner Abuse
- To enhance the services provided by Halifax Regional Police to victims of crime with specific emphasis in the area of intimate partner/spousal abuse.
- To provide a coordinated response to crime victims in cooperation with community agencies.
- To increase police officers' awareness of victims' issues and community based services for victims of crime.
Victim Services - The Unit screens and reviews all intimate partner/spousal calls to police. Provide police case information, emotional support, Domestic Violence Emergency Response System alarm installations, safety planning and referral to victims. This service is delivered through telephone contact, drop-in visits, at a scene and home visits. Counsellors also provide short-term follow-up to victims.
On-Scene Response - The Unit provides crisis intervention and support to victims at a scene. Trained volunteers are on-call for evenings, nights and weekends. Staff attend scenes during weekdays at the request of officers.
High Risk for Lethality - The Unit provides case coordination with primary service providers, safety planning, Domestic Violence Emergency Response System alarm installations and information to victims identified as being at High Risk for Lethality. This is delivered by the Domestic Violence Case Coordinators, one which is shared with the RCMP.
Staff: Coordinator, Counsellor, two Domestic Violence Case Coordinators and 26 volunteers.
Volunteers are the heart and soul of this unit, typically a volunteer dedicates an average of three hours per week to the Unit. In 2007 volunteers gave a total of 3,584 hours.
The Victim Services Unit of Halifax Regional Police is a police-based victim support unit. The Unit was established in 1996 to provide supportive services to victims of crime, with particular emphasis on victims of domestic violence. The Unit is comprised of civilian employees and volunteers who work with police members. Once officers have responded to a crime and ensured the physical safety of all involved, Victim Services may be called to assist with non-policing issues such as emotional support and referral information. Sometimes we may be asked to remain while officers gather information or take a statement. The Unit's role is to work collaboratively with police officers to assist victims of crime.
Research has shown that intervention during a crisis period is a good predictor of change. This is a primary principle behind the Early Intervention component of the Victim Services Unit. The Unit provides on-scene crisis intervention and support to victims of crime when requested by an officer or police dispatcher.
Services Offered
Activities focus on the provision of follow-up information and referral services.
Services include:
- Providing case information, such as the status of investigation, charges, how to contact the investigating officer
- offering emotional support or services as needed
- providing information or referral to existing community services that may be required by the victim
Reaching out:
- Victim Services staff identify victims by reading police reports. They screen in reports that meet certain criteria, or if staff feel a victim can benefit from some type of service
- police officers can refer victims to the program
- the victim can initiate contact
- community agencies may alert victims to our services
On-scene support:
- the early intervention component of the program provides on-scene response to domestic violence incidents
- on-scene response is generally available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Who uses Victim Services?
Any person who has been the victim of a crime may use the services of the Victim Services Unit. Services are both proactive and reactive when contacting victims of crime. The Unit screens police reports on a daily basis, accepts referrals from police officers and responds to victim inquiries.
Why focus on domestic violence?
Part of the reason behind the development of the Victim Services Unit was the introduction of legislation in 1996 from the Department of Justice in Nova Scotia, which has become known as the pro-arrest policy regarding domestic violence.
This policy states that in the investiation of intimate partner/spousal abuse, police officers must lay charges where there is reasonable evidence that an offence took place. It was also recommended by the Department of Justice that policing agencies provide assistance to the victims of domestic violence through the provision of victim services or victim assistance programs. Halifax Regional Police promptly began the development of such a program with the assistance of an advisory board comprised of a community representative and police members.
Staffing
The program is staffed by a civilian coordinator, civilian outreach worker, two domestic violence case coordinators and volunteers.
Like victims of crime, staff and volunteers come from all walks of life, bringing with them a variety of interests, life experiences and expertise. Their time, commitment and energy is essential to the provision of service to victims of crime, and intimate partner/spousal abuse in particular.
Staff and volunteers are provided opportunities to participate in training activities relevant to the criminal justice system, policing and the social service community. We strive to ensure the provision of highly trained and skilled volunteers to work with police officers and victims of crime.
To contact a member of the Victim Services unit please call 490-5300.
http://www.bryonyhouse.ca
- Nova Scotia Domestic Violence Resource Centre
http://www.nsdomesticviolence.ca/
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/familyviolence/html/fvparentsabu_e.html
- Silent Witness Nova Scotia
http://silentwitnessnovascotia.org/
- Transition House Association of Nova Scotia
http://www.thans.ca
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