Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research
Police calls for service involving persons with mental illness (PWMI) are common in British Columbia, often involving repeat contacts with the criminal justice system. While Crisis Intervention Training is widely used, co-responder models that pair police officers with mental health professionals, have also been implemented. These models aim to reduce harm, stabilize individuals, and preventing … Read more
In contrast to the decline in overall police-reported crime, overall, hate crimes are on the rise in many areas in Canada, including British Columbia. This increase has provided a sense of urgency in the search for appropriate and effective responses to hate incidents and hate crime. Although there is a legal framework for addressing hate … Read more
Strangulation by an intimate partner is one of the most significant risk factors for future lethality. Often referred to by victims-survivors as “choking”, strangulation involves the external compression of airways and blood flow, for example by using hands (manual) or a belt or rope (ligature). Strangulation is a highly gendered form of intimate partner abuse, … Read more
Restorative justice seeks to involve victims, offenders, and community members in a collaborative approach to resolving crime. It provides an opportunity for offenders to take responsibility for their actions and to understand the effects of their behaviour. Often associated with youth crime and lower severity crimes, restorative justice seeks to create dialogue and engagement towards … Read more
Interagency Case Assessment Teams (ICATs) were introduced in British Columbia in 2010 in response to a high-profile domestic violence homicide that occurred on Vancouver Island. ICATs were developed by the Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA BC) and their Community Coordination for Women’s Safety (CCWS) program and were formalized in an amendment to the provincial … Read more
Imitation firearms, including airsoft guns and pellet guns, can present serious public safety concerns. Although in Canada the possession of a fake weapon or imitation firearm is not prohibited, it is considered a criminal offence when used in the commission of another Criminal Code offence. The British Columbia Taskforce on Illegal Firearms (2017) reported that … Read more
Intimate partner violence is a serious concern in Canada. Approximately every five days, a woman is killed by their current or former intimate partner (Canadian Domestic Homicide Prevention Initiative, 2018). Research previously conducted by the Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research at the University of the Fraser Valley identified that, in 2016, the … Read more
Adults aged 65 years and older represent an increasing proportion of the Canadian population. Similarly, rates of violent crimes involving elder victims have reportedly been increasing in Canada (Conroy, 2021). The report explored the trends in police files involving elder victims of violent crimes through analyses of police data and survey data collected from frontline … Read more
Situation Tables (also known as Hubs) have become an increasingly popular means of addressing crime and several co-occurring social problems in communities across Canada. Situation Tables represent a holistic approach to individual and community well-being and safety. They are premised on a model of social service collaboration that aims to identify vulnerable individuals and connect … Read more
In Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) detachments and municipal police departments across British Columbia, the largest proportion of calls for service are considered lower priority calls, commonly referred to as Priority 3 and Priority 4 calls (De Jager, 2021). For the most part, Priority 1 calls are dispatched immediately and officers travel to the scene … Read more