Domestic Violence & Police Response in Prince Edward Island
What survivors may experience during a PEI police response to domestic violence.
Police Involvement, Arrests, and No‑Contact Conditions
When Police First Arrive
If police are called to a relationship or family-related incident, their main focus is usually immediate safety and preventing further harm.
- They may separate the people involved to speak with each person privately.
- They may ask about injuries, threats, property damage, weapons, or children present.
- They may take brief notes, photos of visible injuries or damage, and contact information for witnesses.
- They may check if there are already court orders or conditions in place, such as bail conditions or protection orders.
- If they believe a crime has happened, they may detain or arrest someone at the scene or later.
What an Arrest Can Look Like
If police decide to arrest someone, they usually:
- Tell the person they are under arrest and may briefly explain why.
- May handcuff and search the person for safety reasons.
- May remove them from the home or location.
- Take them to a police station or holding area for processing.
Police may also collect more information after an arrest, such as detailed statements, photos, or medical records, if available and if a person chooses to share them.
When Police Do Not Arrest
Sometimes police attend but do not arrest or charge anyone. This can happen if they believe no crime has been committed or there is not enough evidence at that time.
- They may give verbal warnings or suggest ways to separate for the short term.
- They may help someone leave the home briefly to collect essential items if it appears safe to do so.
- They may refer people to community supports or information lines, depending on the area.
Release From Custody: Common Conditions
After an arrest, a person may be:
- Held for a bail hearing before a justice or judge, or
- Released by police with conditions, depending on the situation and local practices.
Release conditions differ by province and by case, but they often focus on:
- Contact with the person who experienced harm or threats
- Where the person can go (for example, not to a certain home or workplace)
- Use of alcohol or drugs, if these were related to the incident
- Possession of weapons
Understanding No‑Contact and “No‑Go” Conditions
No‑contact conditions are rules that limit or ban communication with a named person. They may be part of:
- Police release documents
- Bail or recognizance orders
- Probation orders after a conviction
- Civil or family court protection orders
Common no‑contact terms may include:
- No direct contact by phone, text, email, social media, or in person.
- No indirect contact through friends, family, or others, except where specifically allowed (for example, through a lawyer).
- No attending at certain places (“no‑go” zones), such as a home, workplace, school, or community space.
Children, Messages, and Exceptions
Where children are involved, no‑contact conditions can become complicated.
- Sometimes the order allows contact only to arrange parenting time or discuss children in specific ways (for example, by text or through a third party).
- Sometimes the order bans all contact, and a separate court process may be needed to address parenting arrangements.
- Police usually enforce the wording exactly as written, even if both people informally agree to ignore it.
If the person with conditions breaches them, police may lay additional charges, even if the other person did not intend to cause that outcome.
How Emergency Protection Orders and Police Conditions Interact
Some provinces and territories have Emergency Protection Orders (EPOs) or similar urgent court orders that can be requested when there is relationship‑based harm or risk. Names and details vary by region.
Possible interactions include:
- If police are already involved: Police or justice officials may ask whether there is an existing EPO or similar order in place.
- If there is no existing EPO: In some areas, police or crisis justices can help start an emergency order process after an incident, especially outside court hours.
- If an EPO already exists: Police may enforce its terms if they believe it has been breached (for example, contact that is not allowed by the order).
Conflicts Between Orders
Sometimes there can be more than one type of order at the same time, such as:
- a criminal no‑contact condition, and
- a civil or family protection order or parenting order.
When orders seem to conflict:
- Police usually follow the most restrictive conditions when deciding how to respond.
- Court orders from different courts can sometimes be changed or clarified later, but that takes time and usually a new court appearance.
- People affected may wish to keep copies of all relevant orders in one place and show them to police if there is confusion.
Planning Around Police and Court Conditions
No‑contact and release conditions can influence where someone lives, how they communicate, and how they arrange work or childcare. Some people choose to:
- Keep a copy of any orders or conditions easily accessible and share them only with people who need to know (for example, school staff or a supervisor, if relevant and safe).
- Document any unwanted contact or breaches in a safe way, if it feels safe to do so.
- Ask questions about confusing wording before relying on an understanding of what is “allowed.”
Additional support options across Canada, including legal information services and shelters, can be found through resources listed at DV.Support.