I think that families going through the court processes are in need of mental health supports, financial assistance and we need to see our rights being recognized. I think a big part of it is the financial assistance for families and the mental health supports, not to mention the advocacy for their matter. Victim services will walk you through when your court dates are, when the next appearances are and what to expect for those types of things, but then you're left on your own. When many of the families go into court, they are blindsided. They come to me afterwards. I have spoken with many families, my own included. They come out of court and don't understand what just happened. They don't understand the process. They don't understand the decisions that were made and why. There isn't anybody there to follow up with them.
I think we need a number of things ranging from the supports for mental health to the financial assistance to proper advocacy, so our own establishment is helping the victims and their families and it's coming from within, not from the outside. It sends a dangerous message that offenders' rights are more important and that their lives are more valued than ours, yet we're the ones who are going through this. We're living it.