Released on November 5, 2018
Saskatchewan is the first province in Canada to introduce legislation that allows police to release information about someone’s violent or abusive past to intimate partners who may be at risk.The Interpersonal Violence Disclosure Protocol (Clare’s Law) Act will provide the legislative framework for police services to disclose relevant information to people at risk through the “right to know” process and to applicants through the “right to ask” process.
“We have seen too many cases of interpersonal, domestic and sexual violence in our province,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said. “If we are able to identify risk and inform those at risk, we hope to help protect people in Saskatchewan from violent and abusive behaviour by a partner.”
“Clare’s Law” was first introduced in the United Kingdom and named in honour of Clare Wood, a woman who was murdered by her partner and unaware of his violent past. Clare’s father advocated for more disclosure by police to protect domestic violence victims.
Work will continue with police services and organizations helping survivors of domestic violence on the protocol in the coming months.
The Government of Saskatchewan is focused on reducing and preventing domestic violence through ongoing collaboration with provincial partners and other ministries.
In 2018-19, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Corrections and Policing will provide more than $20 million in funding for prevention and intervention services, including funding domestic violence transition houses, sexual assault centres, and family outreach services.
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For more information, contact:
Jennifer Graham
Justice
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8621
Email: jennifer.graham@gov.sk.ca