Announcement during Victims of Crime Awareness Week

In April, the provincial government made an announcement during Victims of Crime Awareness Week indicating eight thousand victims of violent crime and their families will benefit from a new financial commitment to victim support. The province is making $100 million available to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (http://www.cicb.gov.on.ca/), Ontario's agency responsible for awarding compensation to victims of violent crime. The funding will help the board speed up the process of compensating victims.

People may be eligible for compensation if:

• They have been injured as a result of a crime of violence committed in Ontario
• They are responsible for the care of a victim of crime and suffered a loss of income or had expenses as a result of the victim's injury or death
• They are the dependant of a deceased victim, in the case of murder
• They were injured while trying to prevent a crime or while helping a police officer make an arrest.

Since February 2007, the Province has provided an extra $14.75 million to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to provide compensation to victims and improve the hearing process. As a result, the board has reduced its caseload by hearing over 40 per cent more cases in the past year - which means over 1,000 more victims received compensation payouts faster.

Attorney General Chris Bentley made the announcement as part of National Victims of Crime Awareness Week (April 13-19).

Quick Facts

• In the last year, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board heard approximately 3,500 cases and received approximately 3,300 applications.

To be eligible:

• The claim must be filed within two years of the date of the incident. A request for an extension of this time limit may be granted.
• The claim for a minor victim, one under 18 years of age, must be signed by a parent, guardian, legal representative or other responsible adult.

Learn More
Read about the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board

Learn more about government services for victims of crime

Read the Compensation for Victims of Crime Act

Learn more about National Victims of Crime Awareness Week

This information and a backgrounder have been posted on the OAPSB web site.

Backgrounder

Victims of Crime to Benefit From New Funding

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board is receiving $100 million in one-time funding for compensation awards to victims of crime.

This funding will be paid out over the next two to three years and will ensure that 8,000 victims of violent crime and their families receive compensation through the board.

In February 2007, the Ontario Ombudsman issued a report on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. The report called for immediate action to improve the current compensation system for victims of violent crime. In response, the government provided an immediate $14.75 million to the board to hire more adjudicators and staff, and to speed up the hearing process. A consulting firm was hired to review its business practices and the government signed a memorandum of understanding with the board - a joint commitment to implementing the Ombudsman's recommendations.

Since then, 90 per cent of the Ombudsman's recommendations have been addressed. The board is hearing 40 per cent more cases, which has reduced its caseload. The board is also modernizing its operations.

The government has also appointed the former Chief Justice of Ontario, Roy McMurtry, to review the role of direct compensation to victims of crime within the array of publicly funded victim services. McMurtry's report is expected later this year.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board is a quasi-judicial administrative agency established under the Compensation for Victims of Crime Act. It awards financial compensation to victims of violent crimes committed in the Province of Ontario.

Ontario funds a broad range of victim services. These services support victims in the immediate aftermath of crime, throughout the criminal justice process and as they work to rebuild their lives. Compensation is not awarded for property damage or theft, an incident involving a motor vehicle or legal fees incurred for criminal and/or civil proceedings.