By Cheryl Jahn

RCMP Victim Services needs volunteers. Badly

Dec 6, 2024 | 2:22 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – “I can say ballpark. We average about 100 new clients every month.”

That is Aralee Hryciuk, the Coordinator for RCMP Victim Services in Prince George. It’s a daunting number for the volunteers locally, precisely why they need more. Badly.

“We need a few people. Ideally, I would like to get specific people for a court program, for court services specifically, and we also need some in-office support where people but volunteers would come in and make phone calls and reach out to those people. They can also choose to do both the positions, but there’s the option to have just court and just an office or both.”

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“Following up with victims is a necessary part of any police investigation,” says Corporal Jennifer Cooper. “Although sometimes we don’t have the time for front frontline police officers to be delving into what community supports are available or even provincial supports that are available for each different type of victim that we may come in contact with.”

But the court liaison person is a very specific volunteer position that Victim Services is looking for. That would be a Monday to Friday position

“What a victim services court worker does is they go down to the courthouse, they meet with our clients and they’re there with them all day to support them, whether they have questions or just to keep them occupied and also help them navigate through the courtroom and just any fears or stressors. And they’re just there for them. Sometimes they actually sit on the stand with them. They don’t participate in anything. They’re just there as a helping coping mechanism,” says Hryciuk.

And, whether it’s a court services worker or an in-office volunteer, she says it takes a certain personality to do the job.

“I think you have to be, first of all, very caring, empathetic. One of the biggest things is listening. Being able to listen to what your client is saying to you and recognizing their needs. With that being said, it’s not just something that comes naturally and we provide that training to help give you those tools to recognize things that are needed or determine that.”

While victims are typically referred by the officer overseeing the case, but that’s not all.

“We do get referrals from other community agencies and we also get a lot of self-referrals. So that means anyone you could refer yourself, you could call us and say, ‘I have a question, I need some help,’ and we’re going to walk you through the steps to determine what you need. You could also call to say a neighbour or a friend.”

If you want to volunteer some call, call Aralee at 250-561-3328.