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.
