About our program

The Greater Trail Victim Services Program is located in the Trail & Greater District RCMP Detachment. The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary and the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General co-fund the program.  
A team of professionally trained staff and volunteers operates 24 hours a day to ensure victims have immediate support following a traumatic experience. Our goal is to prevent further traumatization, or re-victimization following a traumatic experience.

We can assist you if you are a victim in any of the following situations:

• Assault
• Break & enter
• Elder abuse
• Family problems
• Homicide
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Missing persons
• Robbery
• Sexual assault
• Stalking & criminal harassment
• Sudden death
• Suicide
• Threats
• Other criminal & traumatic situations

Emotional Support
We support our clients, by normalizing the feelings and reactions they may be experiencing by helping them identify their needs, and what to do next. We also offer:

• Crisis intervention
• On-Scene support
• Bereavement assistance
• Emergency shelter arrangements

RCMP Victim Services has a New Facility Support Dog  - Meet Ireland!
Ireland, a black lab/golden retriever cross, is the first and only accredited justice facility support dog guide in the Trail and Greater Area.  She is specifically trained to provide compassionate support, attuned presence, and a calming influence to those experiencing extreme emotional responses to certain events.  Some of the ways in which Victims Services will use Ireland are: crisis intervention (including on scene support and debriefings), client meetings, agency visits, forensic interviews, police statements, court accompaniment, and hospital examinations.

Picture shows Ireland with her primary handler Jenn Penney, RDKB’s Program Manager of Victim Support.

Read more about Ireland here.

Information
Our program staff will help explain:

• What happens once you report a crime
• Police investigation updates 
• Court proceeding updates
• Trauma and grief reactions 
• Safety planning 
• Community resources
• Crime Victim Assistance Program

Referrals
We can assist in referring you to the following:

• Counselling
• Drug and alcohol treatment programs
• Legal services
• Crime Victim Assistance Program

Court Services
We can help you feel more at ease navigating the criminal justice system by:

• Assisting you in completing your Victim Impact Statement
• Explaining your role as a witness
• Giving you a tour of the courthouse
• Providing you with transportation to the courthouse
• Accompanying you during the proceedings 
• Explaining sentencing and the corrections processes

Your Rights
Under the Victims of Crime Act you have the right to:

• Be treated fairly and with respect by all workers in the criminal justice system.
• Receive information about:
   
  • Victim services available to you
  • Benefits
  • Financial Assistance for Criminal Injury
  • How the Criminal Justice System works
  • Your rights to Privacy
     
• You may also be able to receive information about the
   
  • Status of police investigations for your case
  • Court dates and what happens at court
  • Accused or offender information while they are in community and in custody