Domestic Violence & Police Response in Alberta
What survivors may expect when Alberta police respond to domestic violence incidents.
When Police Respond to Relationship Violence
What Police Usually Do to Make a Scene Safer
When police arrive after a call about relationship harm, they usually:
- Check for immediate danger (weapons, injuries, anyone in distress)
- Separate the people involved so each can speak more freely
- Look for children or other people who may be at risk
- Ask what happened and if anyone needs urgent medical help
- Check if there are existing court orders or past police calls at that address
Police may also:
- Remove weapons or items that could be used as weapons
- Ask one person to leave the home for a period of time, if allowed by law in that province or territory
- Stay on scene until things are calmer or until other support (like medical help) arrives
Arrest vs. Charges: Plain-Language Explanation
Police decisions are usually based on what they see, what people tell them, and any evidence available. In many parts of Canada, there are special policies for intimate partner or family violence.
What an Arrest Is
An arrest is when police:
- Take a person into custody and limit their freedom to leave
- Tell them they are under arrest and why, in clear language
- Control where they go (for example, to a police station or a cell)
Police may arrest someone if they believe there are reasonable grounds to think an offence has been committed. This could be based on:
- Visible injuries or damaged property
- Statements from people at the scene or neighbours
- Messages, recordings, or other physical evidence
What a Criminal Charge Is
A charge is a formal legal accusation that a person committed a crime. It is different from just being arrested. In plain language:
- Arrest: “You are being taken into custody right now.”
- Charge: “You are officially accused of this crime in the legal system.”
Depending on the province or territory, charges might be:
- Laid directly by police, or
- Reviewed and authorized by a Crown prosecutor before they become official
What Might Happen After an Arrest
After someone is arrested, police may:
- Release them with conditions (rules they must follow)
- Keep them in custody for a bail hearing in front of a judge or justice of the peace
- Involve a Crown prosecutor, who may give input on release or detention
The decision to release or hold someone usually depends on factors such as:
- Risk of more harm or threats
- Past criminal history or previous incidents
- Whether the person is likely to come to court when required
No-Contact Conditions After Arrest
After an arrest related to relationship harm, it is common for police, Crown, or a court to put conditions in place. These are rules the accused person must follow. They may be written on:
- A police undertaking (a document signed when the person is released from the station)
- A bail order after a bail hearing
Types of No-Contact Conditions
Common conditions in Canada may include:
- No direct contact with the survivor (no in-person, phone, text, or online contact)
- No indirect contact (no messages through friends, family, or social media)
- No attending at the survivor’s home, workplace, school, or other listed locations
- Rules about distance (for example, staying a certain number of metres away)
- Rules about not possessing weapons or alcohol, depending on the situation
If Conditions Are Broken
If the accused person ignores no-contact or other conditions, police may:
- Investigate the breach
- Arrest the person again
- Recommend additional charges, such as “breach of conditions”
How police respond can depend on local policies, the seriousness of the breach, and the overall safety risk.
How an Emergency Protection Order (EPO) Can Interact with Police Actions
Some provinces and territories use terms like Emergency Protection Order (EPO), Emergency Intervention Order (EIO), or other names for fast, short-term court orders meant to increase safety in urgent situations.
These orders can create rules such as:
- No contact with the protected person
- Staying away from certain places (home, work, school)
- Exclusive possession of the home for the protected person in some situations
When Police Arrive and an EPO Exists
If police are called and there is an EPO or similar order in place, they may:
- Ask to see a paper copy or electronic copy of the order, if safe to provide
- Check their systems to confirm the order and its conditions, if it was filed with them
- Look at what the order actually says (for example, no-contact, stay-away, weapons rules)
If it appears the order has been broken, police may:
- Investigate whether a breach of the order has happened
- Decide whether to arrest the person for breaching the order
- Consider both the original behaviour (like threats or assault) and the breach of the EPO as separate issues
How EPO Conditions and Criminal Conditions Work Together
In some cases, a person may be under:
- An EPO (or similar order), and
- Criminal release conditions from an arrest (like a no-contact order or bail conditions)
When this happens:
- Both sets of conditions still matter
- Police may look at the most restrictive or protective parts of both orders
- Breaching either the EPO or criminal conditions can lead to further legal consequences
Thinking About Safety When Police Are Involved
Police involvement can change day-to-day safety. Some people feel safer when conditions are in place; others may worry about increased tension or retaliation. It can help to:
- Think about how the person might react to being arrested or given conditions
- Plan safe ways to store copies or photos of court orders, if it is safe to keep them
- Be cautious about digital contact and social media, especially when there are no-contact rules
Additional support options across Canada, including information on shelters, legal supports, and safety planning, can be found through resources listed at DV.Support.