Strengthening the Legal Response to Intimate Partner Violence

Ottawa, ON - Today Frank Caputo, Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Safety, introduced his Private Member's Bill to strengthen the legal response to intimate partner violence (IPV), Bill C-225:

"IPV is vastly underreported despite being the most significant form of violence against women," Caputo said. "Victims of IPV are often caught in a cycle of violence, punctuated by economic and emotional dependence."

According to Statistics Canada, 60% of all violent crimes occur between intimate partners. IPV constitutes approximately one third of violent crimes reported to police.

If passed, the Bill will:

• Treat the murder of a current or former intimate partner as first-degree murder, regardless of whether being planned or deliberate;
• Create specific offences, including Assault Intimate Partner and Criminal Harassment of Intimate Partner;
• Force those convicted of an IPV offence within the preceding five years to be released only by a judge;
• Empower courts to detain persons accused of IPV at any time for a risk assessment reviewed by a judge; and
• Modernize the detention of seized evidence.

"Intimate partner violence is a unique evil. It turns the place where you should be the safest and most loved - your home - into a prison of repeated victimization," Caputo said. "Survivors often serve a psychological life sentence, and the children who witness this abuse are left traumatized."

"As a former parole officer and Crown prosecutor, I have seen first-hand how our laws on intimate partner violence are grossly inadequate to address the seriousness of this insidious crime.

"I refuse to sit idle while this crime continues to ruin the lives of so many victims. That is why I am introducing this bill as Shadow Minister for Public Safety with the support of my Conservative colleagues. This Bill will protect victims, hold repeat offenders accountable and strengthen the justice system's ability to respond to intimate partner violence.

"Parliament has already studied this matter; now it's time to take legislative action. I hope to have all parties support this Bill and for its rapid passage. Countless Canadians' lives depend on it.

"If you are experiencing violence from your intimate partner, I implore you to go to the police or, at the very least, tell someone you trust. You do not have to face this alone."