Following a traumatic experience, you may often feel overwhelmed and confused, that's where the Moose Jaw & District Victim Services comes in. 

Supporting individuals after being a victim of crime and providing support and information are just some of the key things this unit does. 

Terri Roney, Moose Jaw & District Victim Services Coordinator, says they refer victims to a lot of different organizations in the city for resources and help. She says they have a good working relationship with lots of groups.

"We work closely with the Moose Jaw Transition House, Regina Sexual Assault Centre, Moose Jaw Mental Health and Addictions Services, the Moose Jaw Multicultural Centre, and the list goes on," she says it just depends on what the victim needs at the time.  

Police officers send referrals to this unit to open a file to support the victim, and Roney says they can work with the victim to find the right resources for them. "Our main goal is to support, inform and refer, and when appropriate, we try to set victims up with compensation for funding, but it depends on what that criminal code is."  

The court process can be long and grueling, especially for someone wanting to move past a traumatic event. Roney says they often work with the victim until the case is closed.

"It depends on the crime or the traumatic event, the pandemic pushed a lot of things back as well, but we support victims for as long as they need."  

Volunteers play a major role in assisting these victims, and Roney says the unit wouldn't be able to function without the help of volunteers.

"They make sure the victims we work with have the best support possible, whether that be sitting in court with them, contacting them over the phone and providing information, or setting them up with a referral. Volunteers have a requirement of 40 hours of training before they have their own files." 

Roney says volunteers usually spend about 2-4 hours a week working with victims. 

People looking to volunteer will have to fill out an application form, a personal disclosure form and get a criminal record check. All of these can be done at the Moose Jaw Police Service front desk at 21 Fairford St W. There is no fee charged if applying to be a Victim Services volunteer with the Moose Jaw Police Service. 

A list of some of the support offered includes: 

  • Emotional support in person or over the phone. 
  • Court accompaniment and support during and after court proceedings. 
  • Assistance in qualifying and applying for Victim's Compensation if applicable. 
  • Assistance in referring victims to other community services and agencies. 
  • Updates in person or over the phone on the status of the victim’s file and court procedures. 
  • Assistance in completing Victim Impact Statements if requested. 
  • Attend emergency call-outs with police officers when necessary for Victim support or traumatic events.
  • Emergency intervention orders. 

For more information on becoming a volunteer or just about the program, email TRoney@mjpolice.ca.