Have You Been a Victim of Crime? What's Next… - Office for Victims ...

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THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS
Once a crime has been reported to the police, certain legal processes are set in motion.
This is called the criminal justice process. The information on the following pages will
give you an idea of what usually happens in that process.
Remember that every case is different, and things may not happen exactly as is
described here. If you have any questions about the criminal justice process, you can
speak to the police officer or Crown Attorney working on your case.
Entering the Criminal Justice Process –
The Police Investigation
What happens when I call the police?
Police respond to calls and investigate crimes against people and property. They are
also trained to provide assistance to victims of crime. A victim services staff person
or volunteer may be called to the crime scene or another safe location, to provide you
with support and help answer any questions you may have.
What is involved in a police investigation?
As part of their investigation, the police will ask you questions about what happened –
try to answer the questions as best as you can. In some cases, the police may ask
you to prepare a written statement, or have you attend at the police station to have
your statement videotaped.
The Criminal Justice Process
The police may also talk to anybody else who may have seen the crime take place,
or may know something about what happened (witnesses). Police will also collect
evidence, including taking photographs.
The police may close off the crime scene, and keep people from entering the area,
even if it is your home. This is so that the crime scene and any evidence that may be
there is protected and can be properly investigated.
Ministry of the Attorney General