Province expands Victim Advocate Case Review program to Moose Jaw

By Shawn Slaght

The Saskatchewan government announced Monday that its Victim Advocate Case Review (VACR) program has expanded into Moose Jaw.

The program is a collaboration between the Moose Jaw Police Service, the Moose Jaw Transition House and the Regina Sexual Assault Centre.

On a quarterly basis, three experts from the Moose Jaw Transition House and three staff members from the Regina Sexual Assault Centre review closed sexual assault cases that were deemed unfounded and charges were not laid.

Moose Jaw Police Service Chief Rick Bourassa said the program brings a level of transparency and accountability when it comes to investigating sexual assaults.

“People expect and deserve the best service they can get, and this is another step that we can take towards providing that best service,” Bourassa said.

Bourassa added the Moose Jaw Police Service has already undergone one review that consisted of about 20 cases. In the lone review, Bourassa said there were minor improvements that were pointed out, but no cases were reopened.

The province dedicated $92,000 in 2022-23 for the VACR program, an increase of $25,000 from the previous year to expand the program into Moose Jaw and Prince Albert.

Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Christine Tell said the program allows the experts to look at the cases where charges weren’t laid.

“We have to rely on — and they do a great job — the community-based organizations to deliver that program. They’re the ones that know (best) and the government does not. We provide the money (and) they do what they do because they’re the ones that are working directly with the victims,” Tell said.

Jenn Angus, executive director of the Moose Jaw Transition House, said about 30 per cent of women 15 years of age and older would experience sexual assault at least once in their life. About six per cent of those sexual assaults are reported and, in less than one per cent of the time, the offender is convicted.

She hopes the program will encourage sexual assault victims to come forward and report them to the police.

“The more that women and victims of sexual violence can feel heard and respected in their trauma, the more likely it is that others will come forward in the future,” Angus said.

The VACR program started as a pilot project in Regina in 2021 between the Regina and Area Sexual Assault Centre and the Regina Police Service. It was expanded into Saskatoon with the Saskatoon Police Service and the Saskatoon Sexual Assault and Information Centre in 2022.