Communities that have been affected by a crime have a legal tool to speak out about the crime’s impact on them.
Federal legislation allows for the creation of a “community impact statement” that a judge may consider when sentencing an offender. The statement is written by one person on behalf of a community – which can be any group of people with a common interest – describing the physical or emotional harm or loss, as well as any property damage or economic impact experienced by the community.
“When a crime is committed, the victim is one of many individuals who suffers,” said Karen MacDonald, director of Community and Correctional Services for the province’s Department of Justice and Public Safety. “This change allows an entire community to speak in a unified voice – to a court of law – about the harm or loss that they collectively have experienced.”
The province has designated the Department of Justice and Public Safety’s Victim Services section as responsible for helping prepare community impact statements. Victim Services workers across the province assist victims and survivors of crime throughout their involvement with the criminal justice system, working with police and other partners in the justice system and the community.
Victim services are free and confidential and can be accessed whether or not the police have been called, and even if no charges are laid. For more information on accessing Victims Services, please visit www.gov.pe.ca/go/victimservices or call 902-368-4582.