How police in two northern Ontario cities are tackling a rise in intimate partner violence – CBC

Report on Police Initiatives in Northern Ontario to Combat Intimate Partner Violence and Advance Sustainable Development Goals

Police services in Sault Ste. Marie and Greater Sudbury, Ontario, have implemented specialized programs to address intimate partner violence (IPV), yielding positive results that align with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These initiatives focus on enhancing victim support, improving judicial processes, and building safer communities, thereby contributing directly to SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Initiative: A Proactive Callback System

Program Overview and Rationale

Following a local tragedy in October 2023, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service established a pilot project to proactively follow up with individuals involved in IPV-related service calls. This system is designed to create a more secure opportunity for complainants to disclose information and seek assistance, thereby strengthening access to justice as outlined in SDG 16.

• A dedicated Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) unit contacts complainants 24 to 48 hours after an initial call.
• The follow-up is particularly crucial for incidents where charges were not initially laid but risk to the complainant remains, such as property disputes.
• The objective is to build trust and provide a safe channel for communication, fostering more inclusive and responsive justice institutions (SDG 16.3).

Key Components and Support Mechanisms

The program’s methodology involves comprehensive safety planning and multi-agency collaboration, a practice that supports SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

1. Follow-Up Communication: Officers engage complainants in a conversation at a time they may feel is safer and more secure.
2. Personalized Safety Planning: Discussions include practical steps individuals can take to enhance their safety, such as changing locks, improving lighting, and informing trusted contacts.
3. Referral to Support Services: Officers connect individuals with specialized agencies, including victim services and women’s crisis shelters, ensuring a holistic response that promotes well-being (SDG 3) and supports victims of gender-based violence (SDG 5).

Outcomes and Impact

The callback system, now a permanent police practice, has demonstrated significant success in advancing justice and safety.

• Nearly 1,200 callbacks have been completed.
• These follow-ups have resulted in 41 new investigations.
• Ten new partner violence charges and one sexual assault charge have been laid.
• A criminal harassment case is now under investigation.

A corresponding six percent increase in IPV-related calls may indicate greater public confidence in reporting, a positive indicator for building effective and accountable institutions (SDG 16).

Greater Sudbury Police Service Initiative: A Specialized IPV Unit

Context and Rationale

The Greater Sudbury Police Service launched a dedicated IPV unit in June as a pilot project to manage a substantial rise in related incidents. This increase is attributed to complex socioeconomic factors, including financial strain and housing instability, which are broader challenges addressed within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

• Police responded to nearly 3,000 IPV-related calls last year, a 40 percent increase from 2023.
• This equates to an average of eight such calls per day.
• The creation of a specialized unit aims to provide an expert-led, consistent response to these complex cases, directly targeting the reduction of violence as per SDG 16.1.

Unit Structure and Mandate

The unit is structured to ensure a high level of expertise in handling sensitive cases, which is fundamental to achieving justice for victims of gender-based violence (SDG 5).

• The unit is composed of four dedicated officers.
• Officers have received specialized training in trauma-informed interviewing, domestic violence investigation, and risk assessment techniques.
• The primary goal is to provide an expert approach to complex cases involving vulnerable individuals, particularly women and girls subjected to coercive control and abuse.

Preliminary Outcomes and Future Viability

In its initial three months, the pilot project has shown considerable effectiveness in strengthening the justice system’s response to IPV.

• The unit has responded to over 200 incidents that resulted in an arrest.
• Multiple high-risk offenders have been arrested.
• The caseload for front-line patrol officers has been significantly reduced, allowing for more focused investigations.

The service will evaluate the pilot’s outcomes after one year to determine its long-term implementation, with the goal of making it a permanent fixture to ensure sustained progress toward creating a safer, more just, and sustainable community (SDG 11).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article directly addresses intimate partner violence (IPV), which is a primary form of gender-based violence. The police initiatives described are aimed at protecting victims, who are predominantly women, and eliminating violence against them, which is a core component of achieving gender equality.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article focuses on the role of police forces (institutions) in improving the justice process for victims of IPV. It details new strategies, such as callback systems and dedicated units, to reduce violence, ensure victims have access to justice, and make law enforcement institutions more effective and responsive to these specific crimes.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 5: Gender Equality
  • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.

    The entire article is centered on this target. The police projects in Sault Ste. Marie and Greater Sudbury are concrete actions designed to reduce incidents of intimate partner violence and support victims, directly contributing to the elimination of violence against women in the private sphere.

• Under SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

    The Sault Ste. Marie pilot project was initiated in response to a “horrible tragedy” involving a death, highlighting the goal of preventing such fatalities. Both police forces are implementing programs specifically to reduce the prevalence and escalation of intimate partner violence.

  • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law… and ensure equal access to justice for all.

    The callback system in Sault Ste. Marie is designed to give complainants a “second opportunity to speak with our officers,” thereby improving their access to the justice system. The creation of a specialized IPV unit in Sudbury with trained officers ensures an “expert approach in handling these sensitive and often really complex cases,” which promotes a more effective and just legal process for vulnerable victims.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Number of calls for service related to IPV: The article states that Sault Ste. Marie saw a “six percent increase in calls,” and Greater Sudbury received “almost 3,000 calls for service,” marking a “near 40 per cent increase.” While an increase may seem negative, the police chiefs interpret it as a positive sign of increased reporting and public trust.
• Number of police follow-up actions: Sault Ste. Marie Police made “almost 1,200 callbacks,” which is a direct measure of the implementation of their new support system.
• Number of new investigations and charges: The callbacks in Sault Ste. Marie resulted in “41 new investigations being launched, 10 new partner violance charges being laid, one sexual assault resulting in charges and a criminal harassment case that’s now being investigated.” These are direct indicators of the justice system’s response.
• Number of incidents handled by specialized units: The new unit in Sudbury has “responded to over 200 incidents of intimate partner violence that resulted in arrest” in three months.
• Number of arrests and protection orders: The Sudbury unit has been successful in arresting “multiple offenders, some of them being high risk” and their investigations have “led to numerous warrants and protection orders.”
• Institutional capacity building: The creation of a dedicated IPV unit in Sudbury with four officers who have “completed specialized training in trauma-informed interviewing, domestic violence investigations and risk assessment techniques” is a qualitative indicator of strengthening institutional response.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cbc.ca