Information on police reporting

Sexual assault is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code of Canada. You can file a report with the Lethbridge Police or RCMP which may result in obtaining a No-Contact or Restraining Order and/or criminal charges being laid against your assailant. If you choose to file a report with police you will also have access to services from Victim’s Services who will provide support through the criminal process. It is not guaranteed that the perpetrator will face charges or be found guilty, even when you know they are.

The Police Service recognizes that reporting a sexual assault is difficult but it is important for survivors to know the police are here to help. In Canada there is no statute of limitations for sexual assault offences. The decision to report to law enforcement is entirely yours.

• If you are in immediate danger, dial 911. Help will come to you, wherever you are.
• Contact the Lethbridge Police Service. Call the non-emergency reporting line at 403-328-4444 or attend the station in person.
• Attend the hospital. If you are at the hospital or being treated for injuries resulting from a sexual assault, tell a medical professional that you wish to report the crime and a police officer will attend. You can also choose to have a sexual assault forensic exam.

It is the responsibility of the police to conduct a thorough investigation. Their goal is to identify, arrest and prosecute the person(s) responsible. During the course of the investigation many steps will be taken, including where possible, every effort to provide an interviewer of the victim’s preferred gender.

When you report a sexual assault a police officer will take a statement from you to complete an initial report.

Depending on the nature of the sexual assault, the officer may ask you to go to the hospital to treat any injuries and to have a sexual assault evidence kit taken. The kit will collect forensic evidence. The officer may also seize any clothing or other articles that may contain forensic evidence. As the investigation proceeds, the officer will keep the complainant updated on its progress. If there is sufficient evidence or grounds to support charges, charges will be sworn and police will continue to assist the complainant throughout the duration of the court process.

If you are reporting to the Lethbridge Police Service, Victim/Witness Services (VWS) for Lethbridge Police can provides practical and emotional support, referrals, and court assistance to victims/witnesses of crime and/or tragedy in the City of Lethbridge.

Victim/Witness Services is a 24/7 police-based victim assistance program attached to the Lethbridge Police Service. The attending police officer will ask the Duty Staff Sergeant to contact Victim/Witness Services (VWSU) requesting the team of Crisis Support Workers to attend the location of the victim. Volunteer Crisis Support Workers are “first responders” who provide practical support during the first few critical hours after a crime or tragedy. VWSU serves as a central information point for those who have been victimized, providing updates on the status of an investigation and/or court cases.

Support that VWS can:

• offer a listening ear, comfort and reassurance. You are not alone. It is okay to feel the way you feel. Many people who experience sexual violence share very similar feelings.

• talk to you on the telephone; visit you in your home or at the hospital.

• provide court preparation so that you may feel more comfortable if called to court as a witness.

• accompany you to Crown Prosecutor appointments and to court appearances.

VWS will attend the victim’s location and provide assistance the victim may require such as:

• Clothing,

• Information on sexually transmitted disease, infection, pregnancy, and abortion,

• Support and necessary transportation,

• Victim Impact Statement/Financial Benefits information/Request for Restitution

• Court support,

• Ongoing emotional support,

• Referrals and resource information.

• A lawyer can give you specific advice, and can explain your legal options to address sexual violence.
• Depending on where you live, and whether you qualify, you may be able to speak to a lawyer for free, or at a discount, through Legal Aid, a community legal clinic, or a women’s organization.
• Depending on Eligiblity, Legal Aid Lethbridge or Lethbridge Legal Guidance may be able to provide you with information on your options.
• Civil sexual assault lawyers are lawyers who focus on survivors of childhood sexual abuse and adult sexual assault. You would obtain this type of legal counsel for the purpose of financial compensation. Lethbridge Police Services will not recommend a specific lawyer. If the accused is found not guilty in the criminal court process, you can still proceed with a civil lawyer for financial compensation. To locate a civil sexual assault lawyer

• Law Society of Alberta

• Law For Alberta Women

• Sexual Assault: First Steps in the Criminal Process

• Sexual Assault: The Criminal Trial