Information for Victims

“Pain not transformed is transferred” Barry Hart

Have you been the victim of a criminal act? Has this offense had consequences for your life?

Whether you’re the primary victim, close to a victim (secondary victim), or a family member of the convicted (collateral victim), it’s important to find the company of others. Many organisations exist to help you. If you would like assistance navigating your options, the CSJR would be happy to help you. You’re welcome to contact us by e-mail (csjr@csjr.org) or by telephone at 514-933-3737.

For victims of sexual aggression or other crimes, here are two groups that can orient you to the therapeutic or legal services available:

• CAVACS - Crime Victims’ Assistance Centre (Centres d'aide aux victimes d'actes criminels) - www.cavac.qc.ca
• CALACS - Assistance Centre for the Fight Against Sexual Aggression (Centres d’aide et de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel) - www.rqcalacs.qc.ca/

You may also be eligible for financial aid or compensation. For more information, contact:
Crime Victims’ Compensation (Indemnisation des victimes d'actes criminels (IVAC)) - www.ivac.qc.ca/

For men who were the victim of sexual aggression in their formative years:
CRIPHASE, www.criphase.org

For collateral victims, this group can also help:
Canadian Families and Corrections Network (http://www.cfcn-rcafd.org/)

Clicking “Links” on our website will bring up even more resources.

The Restorative Justice Service Center (once the crime’s shock has subsided and certain steps have been taken) offers to deepen your path toward liberation by participating in meetings with offenders and other victims. You will find plenty of infomation about the subject here on our website.

Please take care to have all the support you need during this difficult period.

“The great challenge is living your wounds through instead of thinking them through. It is better to cry than to worry, better to feel your wounds deeply than to understand them, better to let them enter into your silence than to talk about them. The choice you face constantly is whether you are taking your wounds to your head or you heart. In your head you can analyse them... but no final healing is likely to come from that source. You need to let your wounds go down to your heart. Then you can live through them and discover that they will not destroy you. Your heart is greater than your wounds.”
Henri Nouwen
The Inner Voice of Love

You can also click “Links” on our website for more resources.