Mr. Bartolucci What About Correctional Staff?

The Family Counselling Centre of Cornwall and United Counties will be benefiting from a $133,486 Victim Safety Project grant, announced local MPP Jim Brownell recently. The grant the Family Counselling Centre of Cornwall and United Counties is receiving will go to the hiring of a local coordinator to work with police, the Family Counselling Centre and probation and parole officers to make victims aware of their offender’s sentence and scheduled release. The coordinator will also provide safety audits of the victims’ homes.The Victim Safety Project (VSP) is a province-wide, joint initiative between the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the Ministry of the Attorney General. Grants are available to municipal and First Nations police services that are partnering with not-for-profit, community-based victim service agencies. VSP will invest just over $2.8 million on 26 projects to enhance victim services where gaps in victim safety have been identified, including approximately $429,000 for five projects in Eastern Ontario. All projects will be completed by July 31, 2010. Funding for VSP comes from fine surcharges, including traffic violations, imposed under the Provincial Offences Act and Criminal Code of Canada. “These initiatives address the need for victims of crime and domestic abuse to feel secure in their homes and protected in their communities,” said Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Rick Bartolucci. “Bringing perpetrators of crime to justice is an important part of our justice system, but it is equally important to provide support to the victims of crime. (Today’s) announcement will help ensure local victims of crime receive the support they need,” said MPP Jim Brownell.

Mr. Bartolucci what about initiatives supporting correctional staff who are victims of violence including assaults? What about correctional staff who exhibit Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?