Jasper Victim Services continues to expand its level of service for people who have suffered crime, say its head organizers.

New statistics released by the service show that the service is becoming busier and is continuing to reach out to more victims of crime in Jasper.

According to the statistics, the number of victim service responses to violent criminal code violations jumped from 15 in 2007 to 40 in 2009 and non-violent criminal code violations jumped from nine in 2007 to 52 in 2009.

Paul Schmidt, co-ordinator for Jasper Victim Services, said that he doesn’t think that these statistics indicate that there is more crime in the town. Rather, he thinks that it simply means that more people are aware of the services that victim services offers.

“A lot of the job is about making connections and I think we’ve done a great job of doing that,” said Schmidt. He explained that while the jump might look dramatic, he said that crime was happening in Jasper in 2007 at basically the same level as 2009. It’s just that in 2007, victim services was not responding with the same breadth that they are now.

The numbers seem to bear this out.

Non-violent Criminal Code violations jumped by only nine incidents in 2009 over 2008 and violent criminal code violations by only two incidents. What did increase more substantially though is the number of follow-up services provided to victims of crime. Overall, in 2009 the service provided more information to victims, referred more people to other agencies, and, in general, interacted with 68 more cases than they did in 2008.

Schmidt explained that just as they did in 2008, victim services is expanding its service coverage.

“It’s a good news story,” said Schmidt of the statistics. “We think we’re doing a pretty good job.”

Since starting up the job a year and a half ago, Schmidt said that the number of volunteer guardians — on call workers who are ready to respond to any emergencies that crop up in the community — has risen dramatically. There are now 20 Guardians working for Victim Services in Jasper, while two years ago there were only five.

Schmidt, who has worked in victim services for 14 years, said that when more people work for victim services, more people are likely to use the service. More workers can spread the word about what victim services does and how it can help victims of crime.

As well, he said his workers have done a good job of explaining to people how victim services can benefit them.

For instance, Schmidt explained that a lot of people don’t know about the restitution process when property is damaged. If your vehicle is damaged in a random act of violence and the guilty person is caught, if you go through the restitution process properly with victim services, it’s possible that you’ll receive monetary compensation.

“A lot of the time we help people just know more about the process,” said Schmidt.

That explanatory part of the job also carries over to helping victims through the process of going to court. His workers help remind victims of their court dates, what they can expect from the lawyer’s questioning, understand the paper work they’re going to need to fill in, and, in general, help people move through the courts smoother, he explained.

As well, court can be a traumatic experience for some people. Having an adversarial lawyer question you in front of an audience about something personally traumatic is not always easy. Victim services helps people who need it cope through court, said Schmidt.

Overall, Schmidt says that he enjoys working in a community like Jasper where he can do a job he loves.

“Sometimes, you know, you just see someone in need and say, ‘Wow, I wish I could give you a hug,’” said Schmidt. “And then when you do, and they say thanks, they really mean it. It means a lot to be thanked like that and I really take that to heart.”

Schmidt said that he hopes his workers bring forward that kind of warmth as well.

“You hear a lot about intrinsic evil, but you don’t hear anything about intrinsic good. I really think that people here have that sense of good,” said Schmidt.