Canada’s Criminal Justice System plays a critical role in ensuring the overall safety, wellbeing and productivity of Canadians. When we have confidence in our justice system, we feel safe in our communities and our quality of life improves, as well as our contribution to Canada’s prosperity.
Evidence-based research shows the direct link between animal violence and human violence . Cases of partner violence, gang violence, youth crime, organized crime, assault, homicide, sexual abuse and child abuse, weapons and illicit drugs also commonly involve animal abuse. This pattern is known as the Violence Link.
These are just some of the ways in which animal health and human health are interconnected.
Cruelty to animals, the use of animals to victimize vulnerable persons, and the humane treatment of animals in human care are therefore important aspects of the criminal justice system and the laws that underpin it.
Criminal justice stakeholders such as law enforcement, victim services, social services, the judiciary, and animal care professionals must be trained on the Violence Link. Evidence points to the benefit of a collaborative, hollistic approach in order to provide both outcomes for people and animals. Similarly, Canada’s prosecution community needs to be trained on the effective prosecution of animal abuse cases and the Violence Link.
Unfortunately, Canada’s criminal justice system and laws do not adequately recognize or account for animal welfare and the Violence Link, nor is there sufficient awareness, training and resources available for stakeholders.
In order to address these issues, Humane Canada has launched the groundbreaking Criminal Justice System Reform Program. This Program integrates:
