Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA

ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES

Access to Justice Services

Program Name:

The Domestic Violence Treatment Option Court (DVTOC) & The Community Wellness Court (CWC)

Organization/Community:

The Yukon Department of Justice

Location:

Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

Website:

www.yukoncourts.ca/courts/territorial/dvtoc.html

Goals and Objectives:

To address the aggressive behaviour of individuals for the safety of the public and to connect the individual with resources needed to change that behaviour.

Target Group Description:

Aboriginal women and men.

Program Description:

The DVTOC provides a fast-tracked process for charges and conditions to protect the victim, who is often an Aboriginal woman in the community. Prevention and safety plans can be initiated, depending on the circumstances. Negotiation takes place with many groups on how to best handle this specific situation, including the issue of family contact. As part of the overall case planning there is the use of the Medicine Wheel concept as well as programming that is culturally relevant at the Wellness Justice Centre. There is a central one-stop set of programming to assist Aboriginal women as well as other groups. The program offers a First Nations based addiction program for instance, and a perspective of treatment that is associated with being on the land.

Program Successes/Impact:

Successfully implementing a program that protects the victim while promoting a restoration of justice and relationship with the offender.

Key Lesson/Challenge:

The most difficult challenge is getting all the necessary people to the table to discuss an individual and their needs along with the need to protect the victim(s). Obtaining funding.

Program in operation since:

2009.

Program:

Ongoing (pending 2012 funding approval).