Saskatchewan domestic violence report analyzes 31 deaths, makes 6 recommendations

WATCH: Saskatchewan’s second domestic violence death report was released on Thursday, outlining 31 cases and offering recommendations. Mick Favel has more.

Saskatchewan’s second Domestic Violence Death Review Report has been released – which analyzes 31 domestic homicide-related deaths with an in-depth look at 11 cases.

The review, which was conducted by three case review teams and a multi-ministry committee, found that rates of domestic related homicide in rural areas were more than double the rates in urban areas.

The 31 cases analyzed included 34 homicides and four related suicides identified by the Saskatchewan Coroners Service between 2015 and 2020.

The report found that 83 per cent of domestic homicide victims were women and 82 per cent of perpetrators were men, with Indigenous people overrepresented as victims.

The majority of victims were also found to be murdered by current intimate partners, according to the report.

Tim McLeod, the Minster of Justice said domestic violence in the province is a serious concern the population should be aware of.

“All of us as citizens of Saskatchewan should be concerned if we are experiencing situations of domestic violence and homicides as a result of these incidents,” he said on Thursday.

The report also noted that the cases studied may not be the only domestic homicides in Saskatchewan for the period analyzed. The report did not identify possible links between missing persons cases and domestic violence.

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“The loss of lives to domestic violence is a tragic and deeply painful outcome in which women are disproportionately victimized,” Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Alana Ross said in a news release from the province. “We honour those lost by learning from their deaths and continuing our efforts to prevent all forms of interpersonal violence and abuse.”

Family members and loved ones of domestic violence deaths were interviewed as part of the review process, providing insights into their experiences, including insufficient shelter space, lack of professional understanding, and lack of police protection.

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Those interviewed expressed a need for more awareness and education on the signs of domestic violence to prevent deaths.

Jen Renwick is the director of gender-based violence at Family Service Regina. She has been an advocate for those experiencing domestic violence for 20 years.

She is supportive of the report and the seriousness taken with the domestic violence in the province. She hopes the recommendations of the report are implied in the future.

“There are all kinds of things that play into why people use violence in their relationships. If we can help to get the services they need as well, we’re really hoping that we can impact families going forward,” she said.

Loved ones of domestic violence victims were also able to take part in the development in a piece of art to act as a memorial.

The project used individual paintings curated into a place that aimed to reflect shared experiences, depicting loss, grief, memories, and hope.

Members of the review hope the memorial provides readers the opportunity to reflect on individuals who have been impacted by the deaths and move towards a society free from domestic violence.

The in-depth review of 11 domestic homicide cases showed common factors such as the perpetrators’ history of childhood abuse, substance misuse, and escalating violence before the homicide, the report read.

As well, many victims had reached out for support before their deaths but faced barriers in getting adequate help.

The report made six recommendations to promote action and inform future policies:

• Education and awareness, which would include implementing a public awareness campaign and youth focused educational programs
• Intervention for perpetrators, which would include creating programs focused on behaviour change
• Victim-centered approaches, which would include enhancing counselling support and improving risk assessment tools
• Legislation and policy, which would include advocating for longer sentences for repeat offenders and providing training on domestic violence for professionals
• Services in rural and northern areas, which would include developing tailored methods for service delivery in isolated communities and establishing domestic violence police officers
• Infrastructure development, which would include expanding cell and internet services in remote services and creating emergency transportation solutions

“Saskatchewan recognizes the need to take action to address the issue of interpersonal violence and domestic violence deaths in our province,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod said in the release.

“The recommendations in this report will inform future government responses to domestic and interpersonal violence and can serve as a roadmap for all of us as a province to make our province safer for everyone.”

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The first Domestic Violence Death Review was conducted in 2016, and the final resulting report was released in 2018.

The 2018 review was used to develop initiatives to address domestic violence in the province, including funding for second stage housing, the development of Family Intervention Rapid Support Teams, Clare’s Law, a 10-day work leave for survivors, expanded interpersonal supports at the 211-crisis line, and a public awareness campaign called Face the Issue.