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CRIMINAL HARASSMENT: A HANDBOOK FOR POLICE AND CROWN PROSECUTORS

March 2004

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• PART 1 INTRODUCTION
  • 1.1 Purpose of this Handbook
  • 1.2 Legislative History of Criminal Harassment
  • 1.3 What Do We Know About Criminal Harassment in Canada?
  • 1.4 Impact of Criminal Harassment on the Victim
  • 1.5 What Do We Know About Stalkers in Canada?
  • 1.6 Cyber-Stalking and Online Harassment
• PART 2 GUIDELINES FOR POLICE: INVESTIGATING CRIMINAL HARASSMENT
  • 2.1 Victim Interview
  • 2.2 Advice to the Victim
  • 2.3 Victim Welfare
  • 2.4 Collecting Evidence – Information to Investigate and Document
  • 2.5 Additional Investigative Techniques
  • 2.6 Physical Evidence
  • 2.7 Search Warrants
  • 2.8 "Expert" Assistance
  • 2.9 Threat and Risk Assessments, and Level of Intervention
    • 2.9.1 No intervention
    • 2.9.2 Face to Face Deterrence
    • 2.9.3 Sections 810 and 810.2 Peace Bonds, and Civil Protection Orders
    • 2.9.4 Prohibition Against Possessing Weapons
    • 2.9.5 Arrest and Charges
  • 2.10 Coding or Scoring Files/Incidents
  • 2.11 Release from Custody
  • 2.12 Report to Crown Counsel
• PART 3 THE LAW
  • 3.1 Prohibition of Criminal Harassment
  • 3.2 Criminal Code Provisions
  • 3.3 Charter Challenges
  • 3.4 Key Elements
    • 3.4.1 Prohibited Conduct
    • 3.4.2 Without Lawful Authority
    • 3.4.3 Knowingly or Recklessly Harassed
    • 3.4.4 Fear for Safety
    • 3.4.5 Reasonableness of Fear
  • 3.5 Murder Committed in the Course of Criminal Harassment
• PART 4 GUIDELINES FOR CROWN PROSECUTORS
  • 4.1 Process Considerations
  • 4.2 Victim Interview
  • 4.3 Approval or Review of Charges
  • 4.4 Pre-Trial Release
    • 4.4.1 Where Accused is not in Custody
    • 4.4.2 Evidence at Bail Application Hearing
  • 4.5 Conditions for Release
    • 4.5.1 Mandatory Consideration
    • 4.5.2 Firearms/Weapons Prohibition
    • 4.5.3 Additional Conditions
    • 4.5.4 Follow-up with Victim and Police
    • 4.5.5 Breach of Bail Conditions
  • 4.6 Election – Summary Conviction or Indictment Considerations
  • 4.7 Case Preparation
  • 4.8 Sentencing
    • 4.8.1 Relevant Factors
    • 4.8.2 Aggravating (and Mitigating) Factors
    • 4.8.3 Circle Sentencing
    • 4.8.4 Victim Impact Statements
    • 4.8.5 Conditional Sentences
    • 4.8.6 Probation Conditions
    • 4.8.7 Firearms/Weapons Prohibition
    • 4.8.8 Forfeiture
    • 4.8.9 Authorization Revoked/Amended
    • 4.8.10 Chief Firearms Officer
    • 4.8.11 Fine
    • 4.8.12 Restitution
    • 4.8.13 Victim Surcharge
    • 4.8.14 Breach of Probation
    • 4.8.15 Dangerous Offender Applications
• APPENDICES
  • Appendix A: Case Examples
  • Appendix B: CPIC Searches Relating to Firearms
  • Appendix C: Forms
  • Appendix D: Experts: Police Specialists
    • D.1 Behavioural Analysts and Specialists in Criminal Harassment
    • D.2 Firearms Investigation Specialist
  • Appendix E: Crown Case Record Sheet
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Originally prepared in 1999 by the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Working Group on Criminal Harassment for the Department of Justice Canada.

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Federal/Provincial/Territorial Working Group on Criminal Harassment (Canada) Criminal harassment: A handbook for police and Crown prosecutors on
Issued also in French under the title: Harcèlement criminel: Guide à l’intention des policiers et des procureurs de la Couronne
Includes bibliographical references.
Issued also on the Internet.
ISBN 0-662-28212-4
Cat. no. J2-166/1999E
1. Stalking – Canada – Handbooks, manuals, etc.
I. Canada. Department of Justice.
II. Title.

HV6594.4C3F42 1999 345.71’05 C99-980403-0

Published by authority of the Minister of Justice
and Attorney General of Canada
Government of Canada
by Communications and Executive Services Branch
Department of Justice Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H8

(613) 957-4222

Également disponible en français sous le titre Harcèlement criminel: Guide à l’intention des policiers et des procureurs de la Couronne

© Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada 1999
Revised Edition 2004

This document (A Handbook for Police and Crown Prosecutors on Criminal Harassment) may be reproduced in part or in whole, and by any means, without charge or further permission from the Department of Justice Canada, provided that due diligence is exercised in ensuring the accuracy of the materials reproduced; that the Department of Justice Canada is identified as the source department; and that the reproduction is not represented as an official version of the original document.