Training: part of government's response to domestic violence
By Val Campbell
As a government, we are committed to providing safe communities for all Albertans, and that includes freedom from violence within our homes.
As part of our commitment, we have trained and will continue to train police, prosecutors, victims’ advocates, probation officers, crisis workers and children’s workers in areas specific to domestic violence.
To date, we have trained over 2,500 frontline professionals across the province. Areas of training include: understanding the victim, understanding the abuser, how to recognize symptoms of choking or strangulation, conducting enhanced investigations and prosecutions, dominant aggressor traits, criminal harassment after separation and primary risk factors for homicide and murder/suicide.
Alberta Justice has also developed a Domestic Violence Handbook for Police and Crown Prosecutors. We are also working closely with the Solicitor General’s department in developing Domestic Violence Guidelines for Developing Police and Crown Protocol across the province.
These initiatives are making the most current research and best practices available to improve our response to domestic violence in Alberta.
More information is available at www.familyviolenceroundtable.gov.ab.ca, or by contacting Val Campbell directly at val.campbell@gov.ab.ca or (780) 427-9106.
