To obtain emergency assistance following a crime
Call 911.
In a situation that is not an emergency, but where you want to report a crime to the police, contact the police department serving your municipality.
Resources for all victims
As the victim of a crime, or a victim’s close friend or relative, you can receive help from a crime victims assistance centre (CAVAC) 
, whether or not the crime has been reported to the police.
CAVAC services are confidential, and are provided free of charge.
The CAVAC website contains the contact information for many other services providing assistance for victims of crime.
The Association québécoise Plaidoyer-Victimes (AQPV) upholds and defends victims’ interests and rights, and also provides links to other resources .
The office of the director of criminal and penal prosecutions (DPCP) and the AQPV have published a guide to support and protection measures to make it easier for victims to participate in the criminal justice process, under the title Faciliter la participation des victimes au processus judiciaire criminel : mesures d'accompagnement et de protection (PDF 4.71 Mb) (in French Only). In the guide, the information sheets presented by the two organizations describe measures
- to ensure victims’ safety;
- to protect their right to privacy;
- to make it easier for them to testify in court.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, you can Contact a professional with experience in speaking openly about suicide.
Victims of sexual or domestic violence
The Québec government makes emergency financial assistance available for victims of sexual or domestic violence who need to leave a dangerous environment quickly.
TheRebâtir service (in French only) offers 4 hours of free legal advice through the 1 833-REBÂTIR helpline.
If you want to report a crime to the police or obtain information about the court process, or if you belong to an organization that supports victims of sexual or domestic violence, you can obtain answers to your question by talking to a specialized female public prosecutor on the Ligne info DPCP violence conjugale et sexuelle helpline.
The service is confidential and provided free of charge.
Call the Ligne info DPCP violence conjugale et sexuelle helpline
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Victims of sexual violence
You can call the sexual violence helpline by dialling 1 888 933‑9007 to speak to a caseworker. The website for the helpline contains information for victims of sexual assault or sexual violence.
Juripop also offers confidential legal services free of charge to people who have experienced harassment or sexual violence in the workplace.
Other links to resources can be found on the following webpages:
Victims of domestic violence
You can contact SOS Violence conjugale at 1 800 363‑9010 or via the organization’s website .
Other resources are listed on the webpage domestic violence webpage.
Seniors and vulnerable people
A range of resources exist for seniors and vulnerable people suffering mistreatment, including the Mistreatment Helpline at 1 888 489‑2287.
The Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) provides information to prevent elder financial abuse.
Children and teenagers
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection (CCCP) has developed programs and services and offers resources to
- combat the sexual abuse and exploitation of children;
- help locate missing children;
- prevent violence against children.
Cybertip.ca, set up by the CCCP, is Canada’s national tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children. It also provides assistance for various forms of online violence against children, including shared intimate images and online luring.
The Crime, ça suffit! Website (in French only), created by the AQPV, is designed for teenagers who are the victims of crimes committed by another teenager.
Dissatisfaction with the services provided by a government department or body
The Bureau de soutien aux services aux personnes victimes d’infractions criminelles (BSSV) at the Ministère de la Justice can provide information and guidance for filing a complaint with a government department or body if you are dissatisfied with the services received.
The services of the BSSV are confidential and provided free of charge.
Contact information
Bureau de soutien aux services aux personnes victimes d’infractions criminelles (BSSV)
Open: Monday to Friday, except public holidays
Business hours: 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phone:
- 418 648-2018
- toll-free: 1 888 483-2778
Email: bssv@justice.gouv.qc.ca
General notice
Important notice
The BSSV cannot intervene in your case with a government department or agency.
Resources for caseworkers working with victims
In collaboration with the AQPV, the DPCP has developed the following training workshops:
- Les victimes face au système de justice : le connaître pour mieux intervenir
- Le système de justice pénale pour les adolescents: le connaître pour mieux intervenir auprès des victimes (in French only)
The DPCP and the AQPV have produced specialized information sheets (in French only) about procedures and measures to improve victims’ experience of the justice system.
The information sheets are designed for use by caseworkers who support and advise victims.
Last, the Ministère de la Justice du Québec has designed a digital information tool about testimonial aids (in French only), which caseworkers can use to explain them to victims.
Information about the criminal justice and criminal court system
To understand how the criminal justice system works in Québec,
- view the judicial system section (in French only), and especially the criminal justice page;
- read the leaflet Personnes victimes d’infractions criminelles : pour mieux comprendre les procédures judiciaires et les peines (in French only);
- view the DPCP video Violences sexuelles : Les étapes du processus judiciaire (in French only).
Last update: January 10, 2024
