Trauma and Support Services Unit | Camrose Police Service

CPS-TCSS

TRAUMA AND CRIME SUPPORT SERVICES UNIT

Camrose Police Service Trauma and Crime Support Services Unit

The Camrose Police Service Trauma and Crime Support Services Unit (CPS-TCSS) is made up of specially trained case-workers who work closely with the Camrose Police Service and the RCMP, to provide trauma-informed support to people who are affected by a crime, or in a traumatic situation.

Staff are trained by the Alberta Government, and have enhanced Police Security Clearance. This prepares them to do the work they do, and means that you can be confident that, if you need assistance from TCSS, you are speaking with someone who is reliable, knowledgeable, and who will maintain your confidentiality.

TCSS staff are trained to be able to provide support to people who are affected by a crime, or have been involved in a traumatic situation.

They can provide support in the time immediately after the occurrence, and continue to support a client as they move forward through the days, weeks and months following. They can provide support at the courthouse, and when speaking with the Crown Prosecutor.

They inform victims of their rights following a crime, and help in making sure that the affected individual has a ‘voice’ in the process. They also explain court processes and ensure that affected individuals are informed of what is happening in a case that is going through the Criminal Court system.

We can Help you

We provide support 24hrs a day, every day of the year. If you have a question, or would like to talk to one of our advocates, please phone us.

If you have been affected by crime or trauma, we may be able to help.

Some of the areas we can help with are:

Some of the services we can offer:

Support and Resources for Affected Individuals

Assistance

We know what assistance is available for affected individuals, and can aid in finding resources that can help. We refer affected individuals to supports that can help them such as counseling, financial supports, and emergency housing. And we can give information about such things as obtaining a Restraining Order.

Restraining and Protection Orders

There are several different types of Restraining Orders that a person can apply for; some of these involve going to the Court of King’s Bench to file the Order, and the closest King’s Bench Court to Camrose is the Wetaskiwin Courthouse. It can be hard to know exactly how to apply for a Restraining Order, especially if you are in a difficult situation — chatting with one of our advocates can help.

Victim Impact Statements

When you are affected by a crime, you can sometimes feel as if you don’t have a voice. Completing a Victim Impact Statement allows you to tell the judge how a crime has affected your life. The Judge, lawyers, and the accused, will read your statement if and when the accused is found guilty and before sentencing.

Request for Restitution

Completing a Request for Restitution allows you to ask the Judge to consider ordering the accused to repay you if you have lost any money because of a crime. The Judge may order this repayment as part of the sentence that a person is given and the person will have to repay you though the courts. The Judge could order a ‘stand-alone’ restitution order, which isn’t part of the sentence.

If you don’t feel ready to talk to the police yet – you can still chat with us – and we can help you work through your options

Please be aware that the Trauma and Crime Support Services Unit at the Camrose Police Service cannot directly assist in civil and family court matters. However, we can help identify appropriate resources for your situation. Please don’t hesistate to call.

Volunteer Opportunity

Make a Difference in Your Community

Join the TCSS team as a volunteer and work in partnership with the Camrose Police Service to support individuals affected by trauma and crime.

We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities, including on-call support at the scene or providing assistance over the phone to those in need. While shift work is required, we offer flexible scheduling to accommodate your availability.

No prior experience is needed—our mandatory training program equips volunteers with the knowledge to assist individuals impacted by crime. Training includes both Alberta Government online and in-person components.

To ensure the highest standards, all volunteer candidates undergo a thorough screening process, including a criminal record check, a panel interview, and reference checks. There is no fee for the record check.

Ready to make a difference? Follow the links below to apply!