Abuse in  dating relationships  can be physical, 
emotional or sexual  or a combination of these.
   
Physical violence, sexual violence, harassment and 
stalking are criminal offences. A  person committing 
these offences can be charged and  convicted  and may  
receive fines,  imprisonment or both. 

When  you are on a date pay attention to your girlfriend's 
body language. Are they drunk, telling you that they are 
not ready  or want to slow things down? Make  sure  you 
know what she wants because you can be arrested for assault.  
You can be charged with assault even if you touch 
or kiss her without her consent.

Physical abuse is  any intentional unwanted contact 
(ie. punching, slapping, biting, pulling hair). 

Harassing and stalking behaviour  involves repeated 
actions by another person that causes you to fear for  
your safety.  No one has the right to make you feel 
unsafe.   According to the Criminal Code, the following 
activities would constitute harassment and are thus illegal:

           It is a crime when someone against your wishes: 

           - follows, visits, calls, or writes you over 
             and over again
           
           - watches your home or workplace
           
           - does something threatening to you or a 
             family member.

Sexual abuse is any sexual behaviour which is unwanted 
(ie. Unwanted kissing or touching, unwanted violent sexual 
activity, refusing to let the victim use  birth control 
or protection against sexually transmitted diseases).

Check out Types of Abuse in Section 1 for a more detailed 
definition of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. 

There  are maximum sentences for each of these offences; 
for example, if a person physically abuses someone that 
person may get a long prison term and then have a 
restraining order or peace bond against him so that 
contact with the abused person is not permitted.  

A peace bond is an order from a criminal court that has 
conditions on it  (ie. no phone calls) that a person must 
obey.  If the person does  not obey the peace bond they 
can be arrested. A peace bond  can be granted for a maximum 
of  12 months and be  effective  within 24 hours. 
A peace bond can be applied for by the person assaulted. 
A lawyer is not needed. 

A restraining order is an order from the civil court 
instead of criminal court.  Like a peace bond, the 
person being abused can apply for one without the
assistance of a lawyer.  A restraining order  can be 
issued against more than one person.

It's A Crime! 

Assault is a criminal offence.  There  are 3 types of 
assault a person can be charged with under the 
Criminal Code of Canada.           


Young people between the ages of 12 -17 would be charged under 
the Young Offenders Act with a maximum of 3 years imprisonment.


Sexual Assault is a criminal offence.When sexual 
harassment leads to sexual assault and stalking a 
person can be charged under the Criminal Code 
of Canada.  A person can be charged with 3 types 
of sexual assault.


Young people between the ages of 12 -17 would be charged under 
the Young Offenders Act with a maximum of 3 years imprisonment.