PROVINCE ANNOUNCES MAJOR EXPANSION OF VICTIMS SERVICES

The Government of Saskatchewan is expanding its police-based victim services programming province-wide. The announcement was made today by Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan at a Saskatoon conference for victims services employees and volunteers. The move will enable every police jurisdiction in the province to offer services to victims of crime.

"We are very excited to announce this major expansion," Morgan said. "By this time next year, every resident of our province will have access to these important services."

The Victims Services branch of the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General currently funds 18 police-based victim services programs, which are available to approximately 87 per cent of Saskatchewan residents. The expansion will extend those services to the remaining 34 police jurisdictions in the province, ensuring every community and person in Saskatchewan has access to programs and services for victims.

The expansion will cost $1.21 million annually, to be funded through additional revenues in the provincial Victims' Fund. This expansion will bring total expenditures on police-based victim services in Saskatchewan to $3.5 million a year. The Victims' Fund collects surcharges imposed on federal and provincial offenders, and the fund's surplus is largely a result of an increase in the provincial victim surcharge rate in 2008.

"We said at the time we increased the surcharge that the increase will play an important role in providing the help that victims need," Morgan said. "Today's announcement is proof of that commitment, and of our government's desire to help victims of crime across our province."

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For more information, contact:

Linsay Rabyj
Justice and Attorney General
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0775