Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador

FAMILY DIVISION

Family Violence

Nobody has the right to hurt or threaten another person, even a member of one’s own family. Types of family violence may include:

Physical: hitting, kicking, pushing, etc.
Sexual: unwanted sexual activity including touching, fondling and intercourse
Emotional or Psychological: use of isolation, threats, coercion and name-calling

What are Some Options for Victims?

If a person is threatened or harmed by a member of their family, there is help available. Options include:

Calling the police/pursuing criminal charges
Going to a shelter
Applying for a peace bond
Applying for an emergence protection order
Consulting a lawyer

Victims might want to consider doing all of the above; the victim’s safety is of the utmost importance. It might be useful to consider keeping important things together in case it is necessary to leave the home quickly. Some things to consider include:

MCP card
Insurance information
Bank and credit cards
Medication
Identification
Any court papers
Money

Emergency Protection Orders (EPOs)

An Emergency Protection Order (EPO) is a court order that can be granted quickly in the event of family violence. To get an EPO, the applicant needs to:

Have lived in a conjugal relationship with the violent person, or
Have had a child with the violent person

People who are married, living common law or are part of a same-sex couple can apply for an EPO

An EPO can allow police to remove an alleged abuser from the home, take away any firearms or other weapons, give you temporary custody of the home and children, and other conditions that the court deems appropriate

EPOs can be applied for in the following ways:

By police, 24 hours a day
By an individual, during regular court hours
By a lawyer on an individual’s behalf, during regular court hours

Application forms are available from Provincial Court.

Normally, the judge will decide whether an EPO will be granted within 24 hours of receiving the application

An EPO will not last for more than 90 days, and is not a criminal charge

HRLE program for Victims of Violence

The Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment offers support to victims of violence in Newfoundland and Labrador.

HRLE provides support for victims of violence in the form of:

Transportation to a shelter or other safe place
Accommodations
Personal allowance for the period of time spent in a shelter (based on your financial circumstances and delivered by the Department of Health and Community Services).

HRLE provides support for victims of violence who are in receipt of Income Support in the form of:

Continuation of income support based on circumstances
Transportation may be provided:
Start-up allowance to obtain furniture, clothing, etc. if it is deemed unsafe to return home to gather these items
Services of the regional liaison social worker
If you would like additional information about these programs, or would like to speak to an HRLE representative, call 1-877-729-7888 (any time of day or night)

Family Violence Contacts

Police

RNC

729-8333 St. John’s
437-6782 Torbay
637-4100 Corner Brook
944-7602 Labrador City
925-3524 Churchill Falls

RCMP

1-800-709-7267 for province wide emergencies

Shelters

Iris Kirby House (St. John’s) – 753-1492
Naomi Centre (St. John’s) – 579-8432
Grace Sparks House (Marystown) -1-877-774-4957
Cara Transition House (Gander) - 1-877-800-2272
Corner Brook Transition House - 634-4198
Libra House (Happy Valley – Goose Bay) – 896-3014
Hope Haven (Labrador City) – 944-6900
Nain Safe House – 922-1230
Sheshatshiu Nukum Munik Shelter – 497-8869
Natuashish Safe House – 478-2390

Help Lines

Parent Help Line – 1-888-603-9100
Kids Help Phone – 1-800-668-6868
Mental Health Services Crisis Line – 1-888-737-4668
Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre – 1-800-726-2743

Miscellaneous

Seniors Resource Centre – 1-800-563-5599
Victim Services – 729-7970 (provincial office)
Public Legal Information Association of NL – 1-888-660-7788
Labrador Aboriginal Legal Services – 896-2919
Office of the Child and Youth Advocate – 1-877-753-3388