Victim Assistance is about balancing the scales of justice to provide support services to victims of crime and trauma whose experiences may leave them with feelings of confusion, loss, grief or depression. They may also feel left out, uninformed and angry at a system that has in the past put its main focus on the criminal offender.

In New Westminster, Victim Assistance operates under the direction of the New Westminster Police. Community volunteers are recruited, trained and supervised to provide direct support to victims referred to the service by police. This support may be provided by phone, by office appointment or by attendance at the scene, the hospital, or the home of the victim. Volunteers work in pairs out of the police station.

Victims of all types may be referred to the service. All levels of assaults, sexual assault, wife assault, robbery, break and enter, motor vehicle accidents and thefts are some of the crime types served. Police may also use the service to accompany them to a sudden death notification, to follow-up with family after an attempt suicide or to assist people following a fire.

The needs of victims of crime and trauma are varied, but the usual services required include basic emotional support and understanding of the feelings arising from the incident; information about the case and about negotiating the criminal justice system; referral to existing community services for professional counselling or other support; assistance with forms; and crime prevention information.

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