Coroner’s Report on domestic violence cases released
Posted Jun 1, 2010 04:00:57 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – A new report from B.C.’s Chief Coroner says sharing information on domestic violence cases has to be improved. A death-review panel looking over domestic violence deaths in B.C. from 1995 to 2009 says such cases should go through the courts faster.
The panel also wants better information-sharing between government agencies, and Chief Coroner Dr. Diane Rothon says police and the Crown need to do more to link themselves. “In other words, if they can have the same criteria, including a high-risk case on their radar, the same criteria for what they call it, how they process it, how they investigate it, how they proceed with it, how it’s standardized, and how it’s recorded in a common system.”
Of the 14 females and 15 males who died in the cases examined, three were children. The cases involved significant risk factors and revealed gaps in public safety, judicial and support systems that affected the response to those risks.
The panel made 19 recommendations, including :
· Better collaboration among domestic violence responders.
· Standardizing the investigative approach that police use across B.C.
· Training and resources that ensure a timely, appropriate response regardless of cultural, language or other perceived barriers.
· More co-ordination within the judicial system, since civil and family law processes often stem from domestic violence.
· Better sharing of relevant information among government ministries and collaborating agencies involved in domestic violence prevention and response.
· The need to engage community members aware of domestic violence situations – including family, friends and neighbours – to better support partners in domestic violence prevention and response, such as the police and social agencies.
You can access the panel’s full report via the provincial government website.
