Issue No. 3 - Coercive Control and Family Law

May 2021

Coercive and controlling behaviour has been a focal point for emerging policies in family and criminal law in Canada. This issue of Family Violence & Family Law Briefs provides a primer on coercive control for legal, social service, and healthcare professionals who are supporting survivors of family violence in the family court system. 

This brief discusses: 

  • Key conceptual tenets of coercive control, including how this form of family violence differs from a more conventional “violent incident” model of abuse, and why gender is a relevant factor in understanding coercive control. 
  • Current legislation on the inclusion of coercive control into Canada’s Divorce Act and Criminal Code
  • Recommendations and future directions for addressing coercive control in family courts.

Please, see the brief below for more information.


Click here to view this brief: Issue No. 3

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