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Domestic Violence & Police Response in Yukon

What survivors may expect when Yukon police respond to domestic abuse reports.

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CRIMINAL PROCESS

What Happens When Police Get Involved in Relationship Abuse

When Police First Arrive

Police responses can vary by province or territory, but there are some common steps that often occur when police are called about relationship abuse or family violence.

Police try to separate the people involved to talk to them individually.
They may speak to other people at the scene, like neighbours or family members.
They might look for signs of injury or damage to property.
They may ask if there are any children present or usually living in the home.
They sometimes take photos, notes, or collect other evidence.

Police may ask direct questions about what happened, including past incidents. You can share only what you feel safe sharing in that moment.

In many parts of Canada, police policies encourage or require charges to be considered when there is evidence of assault or threats, even if the person harmed does not want to press charges. This is not the same in every region.

Deciding Whether to Arrest

Police usually decide whether to arrest based on what they observe, what people tell them, and any visible injuries or damage. They may also consider:

Whether there is a current safety risk to anyone at the scene
Whether there are children who could be affected
Whether weapons were mentioned or used
Whether there is a history of calls or prior incidents

If police believe a crime has likely occurred and that there are safety or risk concerns, they may arrest the person they believe is the main aggressor. In some situations, more than one person may be arrested.

If a person is arrested, that does not guarantee they will stay in custody. Release decisions and conditions are made under criminal law and can change quickly, sometimes within hours.

Arrest vs. Release: What It Can Look Like

After an arrest, police and sometimes a justice official (such as a justice of the peace or judge) decide whether the person will be:

Held in custody until a court appearance; or
Released with conditions they must follow.

When Someone Is Held in Custody

A person may be kept in custody, especially if there are concerns about:

Serious injuries or use of weapons
Serious or ongoing threats
Previous charges, breaches, or criminal history
Risk of not coming back to court

If they are held, there is usually a court appearance within a short time (often within 24 hours, subject to regional practice). At that appearance, a judge or justice decides whether they will continue to be held or be released with conditions.

When Someone Is Released

When police or a court decide to release a person who has been arrested, they typically set release conditions. These conditions are formal rules the person must follow while the charges are being dealt with. The conditions can be written on documents called things like:

Undertaking
Release order
Promise to appear with conditions (in some regions)

Release documents can look different by province or territory, but they usually list: the criminal charges, the next court date, and the specific conditions the person must follow.

Common Release Conditions (Plain Language)

Conditions are limits placed on the person who has been charged. Some common ones include:

No contact with a named person or people (see more on this below)
Do not attend a certain home, workplace, school, or neighbourhood
Do not have weapons or firearms
Do not use alcohol or drugs, or do not use them in certain places
Stay in a certain area (for example, not leaving a city without permission)
Report to police or a bail supervisor at set times
Follow curfew hours (stay at a specific place during certain times)

These conditions are directed at the person who is charged, not at the person who experienced the harm. However, they can significantly affect the survivor’s living situation, contact, and safety planning.

No-Contact Terms: What They Usually Mean

No-contact terms are specific rules that say the person who is charged must not communicate with a named person or group of people. They usually include some or all of the following limits:

No in-person contact (not visiting the home, workplace, or other locations where the person is known to be)
No phone calls, text messages, or emails
No contact through social media or messaging apps
No sending messages through friends, family, or other third parties
No gifts, letters, or notes left at the home or workplace

A no-contact condition usually applies only to the person who has been charged. If they try to contact someone, they may be breaking their conditions, even if the other person responds or did not ask for the condition.

No-Contact with Exceptions

Sometimes, a release order may include limited contact rules, such as:

Contact allowed only to arrange parenting time or child-related matters, often by text or email
Only communication through a lawyer or another agreed person
Contact allowed only in the presence of a third party

These details are usually written clearly in the release order. If you see conditions that are unclear or feel unsafe, you may wish to ask the investigating officer, duty counsel, or a local legal clinic to explain what they mean in plain language.

What Happens if Conditions Are Broken

If a person who is charged ignores or breaks their release conditions, including no-contact terms, police may investigate. This can lead to:

New criminal charges related to breaching conditions
Changes to the person’s release (for example, stricter conditions or being held in custody)

If you feel unsafe because conditions are not being followed, you can consider contacting police or a trusted local support service to talk about what is happening. You can share only what feels safe for you.

In emergencies or immediate danger, people in Canada can contact 9-1-1 where available. If that does not feel safe or possible, some regions have non-emergency police numbers and local services that can discuss options without pressure.

How Criminal Conditions Interact with Family or Civil Protection Orders

In many parts of Canada, there are two main types of protection tools that might be in place at the same time:

Criminal release conditions (for example, no-contact and no-go terms after an arrest), and
Family violence protection orders (FVPOs), peace bonds, or other civil / family court orders, depending on the province or territory.

When Both a Criminal Order and an FVPO Exist

It is possible to have more than one order at the same time. For example:

A criminal release order that says “no contact” and “do not attend the home”, and
An FVPO or family court order that deals with where children live, parenting time, or who can use the home.

These orders may not always match each other exactly. When they conflict, police usually follow the stricter condition in a criminal order, but specific practice can vary by region.

If you have multiple orders, you may wish to keep copies together in one place, and carry photos or digital copies if that feels safe. A local legal clinic or duty counsel may help explain how your orders fit together in your province or territory.

Examples of How Orders Can Overlap

Parenting and exchanges: An FVPO or family order may describe parenting schedules, but a criminal no-contact term may require exchanges to happen through a third party or at a supervised location.
Use of the home: An FVPO may say one person can stay in the family home, while a criminal no-go condition also keeps the charged person away from that home.
Communication: A family court order may allow communication about children, but a criminal order may require that communication be only in a certain format (for example, email only).

Asking Questions About Your Situation

If you are unsure what an order means, or how different orders interact, some people find it helpful to:

Ask the officer in charge of the case to read or explain the conditions in plain language.
Ask duty counsel at the courthouse to explain written orders.
Contact a local legal clinic, family law information centre, or community organization that supports people experiencing family violence.

Additional support options across Canada can be explored through information and referrals listed at DV.Support.

Laws, terminology, and protection order options can differ by province and territory. When possible, try to look for information specific to your local area or speak with a local legal or advocacy service.

Preparing for Possible Changes

Criminal release conditions can change over time, sometimes without much notice. For example:

Conditions may be changed at later court dates.
Some conditions may end if charges are withdrawn or resolved.
New conditions may be added if there are new incidents.

Some people choose to build flexible safety plans that do not rely only on criminal conditions. This can include digital safety steps, safe storage of important documents, and identifying trusted people or services they can contact if situations change.