“E” Division Violence in Relationships Training program.

Source: (2000) Gazette: A Royal Canadian Mounted Police Publication 62 (5/6): 43-45.

An emphasis on the needs and rights of victims is one of the hallmarks of restorative justice theory and practice; hence, advocates of restorative justice tout its value and efficacy for victims as against formal, state-administered criminal justice. Yet, some in the victims’ rights movement have questioned and even opposed the use of restorative justice processes in cases of domestic violence. While not specifically addressing the issue “restorative justice with respect to domestic violence” this article looks at domestic violence, or violence in relationships, and response to such violence. Two incidents of domestic violence in British Columbia in the mid 1990s raised questions about how the criminal justice system and the police (in particular, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) handled domestic violence. After an independent review, the RMCP’s “E” Division overhauled its policies and training with respect to relationship violence and criminal harassment. This article provides an overview of ‘E’ Division’s Violence in Relationships Training program.