This course is available to British Columbia police officers only. Access for other interested parties will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Please contact CPKN's Support Desk (1-866-357-2756) for details.

Investigating incidents of domestic violence can be daunting. Such cases can be unpredictable and dangerous, and the outcomes are often frustrating. While police officers are critical to keeping victims of domestic violence safe, they are only one part of the system that manages the complexities of these cases in the criminal justice process. This course has been developed by the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General in collaboration with BC police, Crown Counsel, Victim Services, Community Corrections, and the Ministry of Children and Family Development to ensure that all police officers in BC have access to current information on the approaches recommended by experts in the field.

Evidence-based, Risk-focused Domestic Violence Investigations emphasizes the importance of evidence-based and risk-focused investigations as a means to promoting victim safety. It also encourages officers to take a proactive and collaborative approach to managing victim safety. By providing recommended best practices from police and other experts in the field, this course educates and alerts officers to the potential risk factors that may be present in domestic violence cases.

Successful completion of this course is mandatory for all frontline police officers in the Province of British Columbia.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Define Domestic Violence
• Explain the roles and responsibilities of Police Officers and Supervisors
• Explain the Provincial policy and your Police Agency's policy on Domestic Violence
• Explain the role of a 'Spousal' or 'K' file designation
• Explain the roles of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Victim Services, Crown Counsel, and Community Corrections
• Explain the importance of identifying risk factors in Domestic Violence
• Explain how to gather information for assessing risk
• Identify Domestic Violence risk factors
• Explain safety planning and officer safety considerations
• Explain the importance of the 9-1-1 call, identifying premise and Subject history, and checking for Orders and firearms
• Explain the right and duty to enter premises
• Identify key evidence to gather, including how to gather statements
• Explain importance of identifying a Primary Aggressor
• Explain the characteristics of Criminal Harassment
• Explain how to handle a Gone on Arrival (GOA) Domestic Violence Suspect
• Explain best practices and the Police Officer's role in Supported Victim Management
• Identify barriers to effective Victim Management
• Identify factors in Abuse-Related Trauma
• Explain how to prevent Suspect/Victim contact through detention and release conditions
• Explain what should be included in a Report to Crown Counsel
• Explain best practices to promote suspect cooperation with release/probation conditions

Target Audience

This performance-based course is considered mandatory learning for Police and Police Supervisors in both the Independent Municipal Police and RCMP in BC. Any officer who may be attending a Domestic Violence call, following-up on a Domestic Violence investigation, or supervising a Domestic Violence Investigation is required to complete this course.

Subject Matter Expert

The content for this course has been developed by experts from various British Columbia agencies including the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, independent municipal police agencies, the RCMP, Crown Counsel, Victim Services, Community Corrections, and the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

Course Details

Content Provider: BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Price: This course is offered at no cost to BC Police Officers. Languages: English Course Duration: 3.5 hours Release Date: October 29, 2009 Date of Last Revision/Review: March 2010