4.4.1.1

Description: 
Examining the feasibility of expanding the Domestic Violence Treatment Options Court beyond Yellowknife and Hay River.
Lead Dept: 
DOJ
Priority: 
4.4
Parent Commitment: 
4.4.1
Status: 
Fulfilled
Restructured COC: 
Social Envelope
Number: 
1
Deputy Minister Committee: 
Social Envelope
Background Information: 

COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND SAFETY

Commitment 4.4.1 – We will strengthen initiatives and partnerships to prevent and reduce family violence by:
Examining the feasibility of expanding the Domestic Violence Treatment Options Court beyond Yellowknife and Hay River.

The Domestic Violence Treatment Options Court (DVTO Court) was implemented on March 24, 2011. It is an option for low-risk offenders who take responsibility for their actions (plead guilty), and agree to attend an eight-module program. Offenders are carefully screened, and are required to attend the 8-module program as ordered by the Court. Successful completion of the program is a mitigating factor in sentencing. Support for victims is available, and may be coordinated through Victim Services. Victim safety is always a key consideration.

The DVTO Court is an initiative advanced by the Territorial Court, with support from the Department of Justice, the NWT Regional Office of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC), the Defence Bar, and the RCMP.

The DVTO is offered in Yellowknife and Hay River, and is also available to offenders from Behchokǫ̀, K’atl’odeeche and Enterprise. Any decision to further expand DVTO Court would ultimately be made by the judiciary of the Territorial Court, and would need to take into consideration the availability of other supports and programming in any community being considered.

Steps to expand DVTO Court beyond Yellowknife and Hay River included monitoring and examining the feasibility of expanding to other communities (Milestone 1) and begin sittings of the DVTO Court in Behchokǫ̀ (Milestone 2).

Related Mandate Commitments:

  • Commitment 4.4.1 - We will strengthen initiatives and partnerships to prevent and reduce family violence by: Providing training, public information and outreach on protections provided under the Protection Against Family Violence Act.

  • Commitment 4.4.1 - We will strengthen initiatives and partnerships to prevent and reduce family violence by: Continuing the support for a healing program for men who use violence in intimate relationships such as the Wek’eahkaa A New Day Healing Program.