The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is an independent advisory agency that provides advice to the Attorney General of Ontario on victims’ issues, including:

• Ensuring the principles set out in the Act Respecting Victims of Crime -Victims’ Bill of Rights, 1995 (Victims’ Bill of Rights, 1995) are respected;
• Identifying and reviewing the services currently available to victims of crime and any gaps;
• Providing input into provincial victim services standards;
• Identifying ways of using funds collected under the Victims’ Justice Fund to provide new services and to improve existing victim services;
• Conducting research and providing education on the treatment of victims in the criminal justice system and ways to prevent further victimization; and
• Providing input into victim-related legislation and policy.

The OVC was launched in November 1998 and was established under the Victims’ Bill of Rights in 2001 through an amendment to the Act.

The OVC does not provide direct services to victims of crime. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.

If you are a victim of crime and need help or have questions, please call the Victim Support Line (VSL) toll-free at 1-888-579-2888, or in the Greater Toronto Area at (416) 314-2447.

NEWS: The 8th annual National Victims of Crime Awareness Week (NVCAW) will be commemorated across Canada from April 21 to 27, 2013. For more information, please see: www.victimsweek.gc.ca