This is NOT a staffed website.
If this is an emergency please call 911 or one of the shelters.
"A Community Response to Abused Women and their
Families--A Protocol for Durham Region" was launched in our community in
1996.
Since that time, many changes have occurred federally,
provincially and municipally that have had an impact on both
governmental and community agencies.
In 1998, funding was received from
the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation to make amendments
to the Protocol to incorporate the community's response to deaf women
and women with disabilities. An Advisory Group was formed for this
purpose.
Finalizations of those revisions are still in process and as a
result, the Protocol, as it appears on this site, is not current in all
its various sections. However, the revised sections will be made
available as they are developed.
Table of Contents:
1) Introduction — Approach
2) Police
3) Crown Attorneys
4) Probation and Parole Services
5) Linking Police, Crown and Probation
6) Housing Services — Shelters
7) Hospitals and Health Services
8) Distress Centres
9) Children's Aid Society
10) Income Support
11) Counselling Services
12) Linking Probation and Counselling Services
13) Churches
Introduction —
Approach:
Woman abuse occurs because of the pervasive intent and desire of a male
to assume power over and control over his partner. This continual
control places the woman in a position where she is terrified,
uncertain, without choices about her life, and ultimately unable to
escape the situation, due to physical and/or sexual danger and emotional
trauma. This reality is played out continually in a cycle which repeats
itself over and over.
More...
Police:
The police are responsible for thoroughly investigating allegations of
assault to determine if reasonable grounds exist to lay charges. If
these grounds exist in cases of woman assault, charges should be laid.
More...
Crown Attorneys:
The role of the crown is to vigorously prosecute all cases of woman
assault and to provide support and information to abused women during
their involvement with the justice process. They can also support women
and ensure their co-operation in the criminal justice process by
providing information to women and their families about the availability
of community services. Crown Attorneys will co-operate with the efforts
of community services.
More...
Probation and Parole Services:
An offender is placed on probation as part of the disposition of the
case in court if the offender is found to be guilty of or pleads guilty
to the offence for which he was charged. (See Crown Section D,
"Sentencing" for possible dispositions.)
More..
Linking Police, Crown and Probation:
Police will ensure that information on charges and conditions of release
is placed on CPIC within 48 hours to ensure this information is
available to all officers for future calls.
More...
Housing Services - Shelters:
The primary role of shelter services is to provide a safe refuge and
support for abused women and their children. The length of stay is
usually 6 to 8 weeks and is dependent upon the individual needs of a
woman.
More...
Hospitals and Health Services:
There are five areas that all health professionals need to address in
the provision of effective medical care for an abused woman.
More...
Distress Centres:
The role of the Distress Centre is to provide 24 hour
phone service to anyone calling who needs information and support or who
may be in crisis.
More...
Children's Aid Society:
As a primary provider of services for children, it is the responsibility
of the C.A.S. to ask questions of the mother and/or the children
regarding the possibility of physical and/or emotional harm to the
children.
More...
Income Support:
When a woman is being abused and requests assistance in emergency
situations, it is the goal of Income Support to respond within
twenty-four hours (excluding weekends). It is recognized that this
reduces risks to her and her children's safety and supports her in the
crucial moment of deciding to leave.
More...
Counselling Services:
The priority of any counselling intervention must be to ensure that the
safety of abused women and their children is not compromised, whether
the client is the woman, her children, or the abusive partner.
More...
Linking Probation and Counselling
Services:
Across the province in the last ten years, there has been the
development of a policy of providing various forms of treatment to men
who are abusive within their relationships. In some communities
treatment is provided as a contractual and cooperative working
relationship between the Ministry of Corrections and a private or public
counselling agency.
More...
Churches:
The policy of the church is that violence or abuse against any person in
the family is wrong.
More...
Tel: (905) 728-4968
email: info@vpcc.ca