Moose Jaw Joins Victim Advocate Case Review Program

The SaskParty provincial government has announced Moose Jaw and Prince Albert will now be included as part of the Victim Advocate Case Review Program (VACR) initiative.

VACR is a program which allows community experts outside, policing to work with police agencies on closed sexual assault files that were deemed unfounded.

VACR helps to determine challenges and identify opportunities to improve investigation outcomes in cases deemed unfounded.

The provincial government has increased funding for the program by $25,000 in 2022-2023 to $92,000 in order to allow Moose, Jaw and Prince Albert to participate.

The Moose Jaw partnership will include the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS), Regina and Area Sexual Assault Centre and Moose Jaw Transition House,

"The Moose Jaw Transition House is honored to be part of the Victim Advocate Case Review, working alongside the Moose Jaw Police Service and the Regina and Area Sexual Assault Centre," Moose Jaw Transition House Executive Director Jennifer Angus said in a statement.

The MJPS sees the initiative as helpful when it comes to sexual assault cases.

"The Moose Jaw Police Service values the addition of reviewers from the Regina and Area Sexual Assault Centre and Moose Jaw Transition House," Moose Jaw Police Service's Chief of Police Rick Bourassa also said in a statement.

“Their commitment and dedication to applying their expertise strengthens community safety and well-being,” Chief Bourassa said.

According to the release VACR partnerships increase transparency and improve the way police investigate reports of sexual assaults leading to an increased likelihood that offenders will be held accountable for their crimes.

The inclusion of Moose Jaw and Prince Albert comes after Regina and then Saskatoon had VACR partnerships established.

Saskatchewan is the first province where the provincial government funded a VACR initiative.