POLICE CHARGING POLICIES & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - Native ...

Police ResponseWhen dealing with domestic violence Indian Act Band Councils and tribal councilsshould ensure that there are facilities for the victims. The accessibility of women'sshelters should be established with the involvement of aboriginal women.e) Need for a Cooperative Justice SystemNative Justice ResponseA number of respondents favoured the alliance of both the police and the aboriginalpolitical leadership in seeking solutions to family violence. One respondent noted thataboriginal leaders "are becoming aware that it s not just a women's issue, but a problemthat affects the whole community." While aboriginal communities and Indian Actgovernments may not assume jurisdiction, there is a sense today that communitiesshould share the responsibility for their own peoples. Family violence is everyone'sresponsibility. The police are responsible for understanding it and enforcing the law. Thecommunity should report it and respect and encourage the victim. The whole familyneeds to provide support and understanding to the victim.Police ResponseDomestic violence, in New Brunswick, is generally regarded as a matter to be dealt withunder the Criminal Code of Canada. The local government is not involved, but the goal isto have a uniform response province-wide. Certain protocols were developed to guide theintervention of all relevant Government services, such as the police, victim-witnesscoordinators, Family Court counsellors, social workers, and prosecutors. Theenforcement of the law rests with police and the prevention of family violence with policeand aboriginal governments. The police and aboriginal governments should both beinvolved because there is a need for education about abuse, prevention, counselling, andlaying of charges. The Government of the Northwest Territories has committedconsiderable resources to assist victims of violence and some programs are jointly fundedbetween the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada.The police, aboriginal community and family all have a role to play in domestic violenceprevention. Family violence is an issue for all segments of society. First Nationsgovernments, however, like municipalities, are not involved in domestic violence. In theNorthwest Territories this is left to the police, the Federal Department of Justice and theGovernment of the Northwest Territories. "Under the philosophy of community policing,responsibility for domestic violence is a shared responsibility within the community.Aboriginal governments and police play an important role in addressing the issue."Pg. 41