Niki Sharma, Attorney General, has released the following statement in response to the BC Prosecution Service announcing updates to its Victims of Crime policy that respond to recommendations in the Stanton Report:

“I welcome the BC Prosecution Service’s recent updates to its policy on the treatment of victims of crime, including victims of intimate-partner and sexual violence, in B.C.’s justice system.

“Survivors should never feel silenced, disbelieved or alone when seeking justice. Policy changes like this, alongside our ongoing work to implement the Stanton Report’s recommendations and to advocate for federal Criminal Code reforms, are essential to building a system that truly supports victims.

“Sexual and intimate-partner violence are among the lowest reported crimes in B.C. and Canada. This reality was one of the reasons I commissioned Dr. Kim Stanton in 2024 to conduct a systemic review of how our legal system treats victims and survivors of sexual and intimate-partner violence. Her final report confirmed what survivors and advocates have long said: Too many victims face barriers, re-traumatization, and lack of information and safety when they try to engage with the justice system.

“The BC Prosecution Service’s revised Victims of Crime policy responds to key themes in the Stanton Report. It strengthens expectations that victims receive clear, timely information about their cases, including notification of release conditions and any changes when victim safety may be affected. The changes also improve how victims are supported when giving testimony and preparing victim-impact statements, reinforcing the justice system’s responsibility to treat victims with care and respect.

“Overall, the revisions better centre the needs of victims throughout the legal process. They shift responsibility from survivors to the system itself, support more informed decision-making, and reduce rigid and complicated legal procedures that cause delays, frustration and, in some cases, re-traumatization.

“Together, we can create a B.C. where survivors and victims of intimate-partner and sexual violence feel safe, confident and respected when they step forward to seek justice.”

Quick Facts:

• The revised Victims of Crime policy came into effect on May 5, 2026.
• The BC Prosecution Service is independent from government and is solely responsible for changes to the Crown Counsel Policy Manual.

Learn More:

• To read the revised Victims of Crime (VIC 1) policy, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/law-crime-and-justice/criminal-justice/prosecution-service/crown-counsel-policy-manual/vic-1.pdf
• To learn more about the Stanton Report and the Province’s actions responding to it, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/justice-reform-initiatives/systemic-review