What you should know . . After the Verdict

Information for Young Victims of Crime and their Families

Alison Cunningham (1996)

This 1996 booklet was produced with the financial support of Health Canada and was distributed across Canada to victim-serving agencies across the country. Written in a question-and-answer format, it is designed for the families of children who have been the victims of criminal offences that were prosecuted in a Canadian criminal court.

For information on how to order this booklet, see the order form. Disponible aussi en français.

Table of Contents

I'm not sure how the case ended. Can I find out?

The judge ordered that our names could not be used by the news media. Now that the case is over, is that publication ban still in effect?

The offender wasn't convicted. Was all that time and effort for nothing?

I was disappointed with the severity of the sentence. Did the judge understand how serious this offence was?

• Sentences for Sexual Assault

• Sentences for Assault

• Sentences in Youth Court

I wasn't happy with the outcome of the court case. Can I appeal?

I've heard the offender has appealed. Will we have to go through everything again?

• The Role of a Victim in Appeals

• Appeal Bail

• The Outcome of Sentence Appeals

• The Outcome of Conviction Appeals

Can I find out if there is an appeal of my case?

I saw the offender yesterday on the street. I assumed he was in jail. Can he be out already?

• Intermittent Sentence

• Temporary Absence

• Appeal Bail

• Successful Sentence Appeal

• Successful Conviction Appeal

Before the verdict, the offender was ordered to stay away from us. Is that order still in effect?

The offender is the parent of my children and I worry they might not be safe around him. Can I prevent him from seeing them because of what he has done?

• Child Protection Orders

• Formalizing Custody of and Access to Children

• Changing Custody and Access Arrangements

We're still worried that the offender might bother us even now that the court case is over. Are there legal mechanisms to protect against that?

• No Contact Condition of a Probation Order

• No Contact Condition of a Temporary Absence

• No Contact Condition of Parole

• Peace Bond

• Restraining Order

• Criminal Charges

I spent money on expenses related to this case. Can I get paid back?

The offender and the victim are attending the same school. Is there anything that can be done about that?

I've heard that inmates can get out of prison on passes. Can that happen in my case?

The offender is sending us letters from prison. Can we make this stop?

The offender wants us to come and visit him in prison. Can I go? Can I say no?

The offender was sentenced to a period in prison. Can I find out when he will be released?

I think the parole board should know how this crime has affected our family. Are they interested in what I had to say?

Can I be there at the parole hearing?

I can't believe how early the offender was paroled. Can I find out why the parole board made that decision?

I was not happy with how we were treated in the justice system. Can I complain to someone?

Counselling can be expensive. If it is needed, is there any way of getting counselling if we cannot pay for it?

I think my child needs counselling but she says no. Don't all victimized children need counselling?

I've heard that it is better to avoid talking about the offence, to help us all forget. Is that true?

A traumatized child has been through so much. Shouldn't parents treat him differently for a while?

What about the parents? I'm still very upset about what happened. Is there someone I can talk with?

I am worried about AIDS after the sexual assault. Can I get some information?

COMPENSATION

• Civil Litigation

• Criminal Injury Compensation

PRISONS AND PAROLE

• The Role of Correctional Agencies

• The Role of Parole Boards

• Corrections

  • The Custody and Release of Young Offenders

  • Provincial Prison Sentences

  • Federal Prison Sentences

  • Passes and Temporary Absences

  • Harassment by Inmates from Prisons

  • Prison Visits

  • Private Family Visits

  • Questions to Ask

• Victims and Parole

  • The Four Canadian Parole Boards

  • Offenders who do not Qualify for Parole

  • Asking for Notification of Release

  • Sending the Victim Impact Statement Prepared for the Court

  • Sending a New Victim Impact

  • Non-Association Condition of Parole

  • Your Role in the Release Plan

  • Observing Parole Hearings

  • Getting Transcripts of Parole Decisions

  • Questions to Ask

COMPLIMENTS AND COMPLAINTS

• Compliments

• The Ombudsman

• Police Complaints

• Judicial Complaints

ADDRESSES

A. Provincial/Territorial Contacts for Victim Services
B. Child Protection Agencies
C. Criminal Injury Compensatin
D. Correctional Agencies
E. Parole Boards
F. Ombudsman Office
G. Police Complaint Agencies
H. Judicial Complaint Agencies
I. AIDS Information

A Newer Resource

A Full and Candid Account: Using Special Accommodations and Testimonial Aids to Facilitate the Testimony of Children (2007) Seven concise resources to help prosecutors, victim-support workers, judges, police and others understand and meet the needs of children who testify in court. The goal of these efforts is to help the witness provide complete and accurate evidence, or "a full and candid account." Topics covered are: overview of issues related to child testimony, testifying outside the courtroom (e.g., via CCTV), witness screens, video-recorded evidence, designated support person, hearsay evidence and children, and children and teenagers who testify in domestic violence cases. Development and distribution of this resource was funded by the Policy Centre for Victim Issues, Department of Justice Canada.