The Office of the Attorney General released today the final evaluation report of the Prince Edward Island Victims of Family Violence Act. The Act has been in place since December 1996. Its purpose is to address the needs of victims of family violence in the province.
"This evaluation is important because the legislation has now been in place for five years, and we need to ensure that it is meeting the needs of victims and fulfilling its purpose," says Attorney General Jeffrey E. Lantz. "This report tells us that emergency protection orders have been beneficial in assisting victims of family violence and the Act has helped make a difference."
The report outlines a number of conclusions with respect to the act. Highlights include:
• Emergency protection orders (EPO) are granted in almost ninety per cent of the cases in which they are requested;
• There is a general agreement that emergency protection orders are effective in helping victims of family violence;
• Ninety per cent of victims surveyed said that the EPO had helped them personally, and seventy-one per cent said they felt safer as a result of the EPO; and
• Victims who had accessed Victim Services and Transition House Association were highly satisfied with the support they received.
The evaluation report was conducted by Bradford & Associates with funding assistance from the Federal Department of Justice, the RCMP and the Office of the Attorney General.
"The key findings in the report focus on the emergency protection orders and the feeling of safety and immediate protection which comes from these orders," says Brenda Bradford.
The Office of the Attorney General and its partners are reviewing and considering the recommendations made by the report which include:
• a need for ongoing training for police and other justice officials in the legislation and the dynamics of family violence;
• that steps be taken to ensure the public has access to information about the Victims of Family Violence Act, EPOs and Victim Assistance Orders; and,
• that the Victims of Family Violence Act and its orders continue to be monitored.
Copies of the Evaluation Report of the Prince Edward Island Victims of Family Violence Act are available by contacting Ellie Reddin, Manager of Victim Services at 368-4584.