Civil Forfeiture Office grants and compensation

The Civil Forfeiture Office (CFO) seeks to obtain the forfeiture of property that is either the proceeds of unlawful activity or an instrument of unlawful activity.

The Supreme Court of Canada has confirmed that the purpose of civil forfeiture is to:

• Take the profit out of unlawful activity;
• Prevent the use of property to unlawfully acquire wealth or cause serious bodily harm; and
• To compensate certain victims of crime and fund crime prevention initiatives.

Since its inception, the CFO has forfeited over $207 million. The CFO operates as a self-funded government unit, with recoveries from forfeitures used to cover its operational and legal costs. Remaining funds are then distributed to fund initiatives that enhance public safety and assist victims of crime, and to support eligible victims with compensation.

Approximately half of the funds from all forfeitures go back into BC communities.

The Civil Forfeiture Grant Program provides one-time funding to support community safety related initiatives across the province. Funding is allocated through streams chosen on an annual basis that align with ministry priorities. Since the program’s inception, over $86 million in funding has been awarded to support community-based projects across BC, including approximately 10% allocated to police departments for specialized Police Equipment and Training grants.

The Victim Compensation Program provides financial assistance to individuals who have suffered a financial loss due to unlawful activity linked to property forfeited by the Civil Forfeiture Office. Eligible victims must not have been involved in the unlawful activity. Approximately $1.7 million has been distributed to support eligible victims across B.C. to date.