Social Policy Trends: Before the First Charge

From 2020 to 2023, more than half of convicted offenders had police interactions prior to a domestic violence charge.

The perpetration of domestic violence (DV) remains a persistent challenge in Canada, with the number of male perpetrators per capita remaining relatively stable over the past two decades. Public policy responses have traditionally focused on supporting victims and holding perpetrators accountable after violence occurs. While essential, these approaches do little to prevent violence from happening in the first place.

A prevention-oriented approach requires identifying opportunities to intervene before violence escalates to the point of criminal charges. One promising avenue is to examine patterns of interactions with police in the years leading up to a DV charge. If consistent patterns can be identified, they may signal opportunities for early intervention and inform the development of prevention strategies.