Why Is There a Hearing?

The Board will hold a hearing to review all of the information collected in order to decide:

If you have been a victim of a crime of violence
If you have been injured as a result of the crime
The amount of compensation to be awarded

Please note:

Once your Police Questionnaire has been received, the Board is required to make a reasonable attempt to locate and notify the (alleged) offender of the hearing of your claim in accordance with Section 9(1) of the Compensation for Victims of Crime Act.

You may be asked to provide the (alleged) offender’s address before the claim proceeds to hearing. If a response is received, you will be told. In addition, if the (alleged) offender responds, the Board should be informed of any concerns you may have about his/her attendance.

Hearing Types

The Board decides what type of hearing you will have. You can have a written hearing or an oral hearing (in person or electronic).

If your hearing is written, you will not be present. A Board member will make a decision after reviewing all the supporting information in your file.

If your hearing is oral, you must be present. There are usually two Board members on the hearing panel who may ask you questions about the incident and your injuries. Oral hearings are usually open to the public, except when claims involve a sexual offence, domestic violence or child abuse. If the Board decides that the hearing will be electronic, this means one party will participate by means of a telephone conference call. Minor victims are entitled to, but not required to, attend the hearing.

In order to hold more hearings, reduce wait times and to make it more convenient for the applicants, the Board has hearings in 20 locations across the province: Belleville, Cornwall, Dryden, Hamilton, Kenora, Kingston, Kitchener, London, North Bay, Orillia, Ottawa, Peterborough, Sault Ste Marie, Sioux Lookout, St. Catharines, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Timmins, Toronto, Windsor. In addition, hearings are held in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Witnesses

If you wish to have someone present to give evidence at your hearing, you must ask the Board to issue a summons. If a summons is issued, you must arrange to have it served on your witness personally along with the required attendance fees. The Board is not responsible to pay for attendance fees.

For more information see:
Applicant Information for Written , Oral and Electronic Hearings