To prevent feminicides and protect victims of domestic violence, anti-relationship bracelets (BAR) already used in certain regions of Quebec can now be imposed in four others, namely Montreal, Côte-Nord, Estrie and Centre-du- Quebec.
Public Security Minister François Bonnardel said on Monday that this geolocation tool has been deployed even more widely since April and the beginning of May with the addition of these regions.
So far, 65 bracelets have been installed on the ankles of defendants or offenders, according to figures provided by the ministry.
The project was first implemented in the Quebec region in May 2022, then in eight others during the year. The next stages are Bas-Saint-Laurent and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean in June 2023 and Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Nord-du-Québec in September 2023.
The stranglehold bracelet technology is made up of two interconnected devices: a non-removable bracelet worn on the ankle by the accused or offender, and a mobile application installed on a cell phone that is in the hands of the victim.
If the offender crosses the predetermined perimeter, a signal will be transmitted to a monitoring center which can see on a screen the location of each of the two people. He will ask the wearer of the bracelet to turn back. If he refuses or continues to approach, the officer will request the intervention of the police.
“BAR can help save lives and restore peace of mind for many women; this is why we have been redoubling our efforts since May 2022 to put it in place as quickly as possible,” said Minister Bonnardel in a press release, stressing that Quebec is the first province in Canada to make it possible in a context of violence. marital.
The bracelet can be imposed by a judge, by the Commission québécoise des libérations conditionnelles or by the management of a provincial detention facility. In all cases, the victim will have to give their consent before the measure is imposed.
For now, the bracelet cannot be fitted to the ankles of people sentenced to more than two years in prison, as they are held in federal penitentiaries.
The Department of Public Security estimates the cost of this program at $41 million.
When the measure was first announced, it received support from women’s groups — with some caveats.
This is one more tool to protect victims of violence, but it must be used with caution, underlined the Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victims de violence conjugale. Because it should not become an automatic replacement for prison sentences, or surveillance measures which may be more appropriate, warned the group. Other groups had pointed out the limits of the cellular network in certain regions, necessary for the functioning of the bracelet.