Bail violations a warning sign for domestic violence, report says

A report from the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy suggests that many domestic violence charges are perpetrated by men who've previously been charged with bail violations. (Pexels/Kindel Media)

A new report is shining a light on the role lesser offences play in domestic violence, which the authors believe could help law enforcement protect the public.

The University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy report suggests bail violations by male perpetrators often precede charges of domestic violence against them.

“(The finding) holds the potential to identify patterns early and intervene before violence escalates, curbing violence against women and children, and improving the efficiency of criminal justice operations,” the report reads.

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The School of Public Policy based its findings on bail charges – violations for failing to attend court, failing to comply with court-ordered conditions and failing to attend for fingerprinting – that occur after an arrest.

The report found that in a sample of 934 male offenders charged with a domestic violence charge in 2019, 14 per cent had bail charges levied against them.

“There were 111 bail charges levied against these men two years prior to the criminal charge involving domestic violence, and 233 bail charges levied against them one year prior to the criminal charge,” the school said.

The authors suggest those charges point to “a heightened risk” for those 133 individuals to commit an act of domestic violence.

“The evidence presented here suggests that the violation of bail conditions signals the potential for future charges involving domestic violence. Our research on the strength of this signal is on-going.”

The School of Public Policy says this research can help push lawmakers to consider mandated counseling as well as other supports and interventions for male suspects.