The installation of anti-reconciliation bracelets, used to prevent femicide and protect victims of domestic violence or sexual exploitation, is now possible everywhere in Quebec.
This protection measure was offered for the first time in the Quebec region in May 2022. It was then gradually deployed in the other administrative regions and, very recently, only Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Gaspésie– were missing. Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Northern Quebec. The bracelets have now been available there since September.
They are used to prevent offenders from approaching their victim.
The system is made up of two geolocation devices linked together, namely a bracelet permanently attached to the ankle of the accused or offender and a mobile application installed on a cell phone which is in the hands of the person to be protected.
If the offender crosses the predetermined prohibition zones around the victim, a signal will be transmitted to a monitoring center, which can see on a screen the location where each of the two people is located. An officer will ask the bracelet wearer to turn back. If he refuses or continues to approach, the agent will request the intervention of the police. Sometimes, the police are immediately deployed, without waiting for the offender’s reaction, said Isabelle Mailloux, general director of security at the Correctional Services Department, in an interview.
“The idea is to ensure peace of mind and safety for the victim,” she says, and to prevent the commission of other criminal offenses.
Since these bracelets became available in Quebec, the police have intervened on 427 occasions, which does not mean that the prohibited perimeter was crossed on all these occasions, specifies M.me Mailloux: sometimes the police show up when the battery of the devices is below the prescribed threshold, to ensure that the offender or victim recharges it immediately.
Between the start of the program and November 6, the installation of 233 anti-reconciliation bracelets was ordered, according to data obtained from the Ministry of Public Security.
And, until now, they have worked well, except once, maintains the ministry. In September, he revealed that an offender wearing such a bracelet had managed to get closer to his victim, without an alarm being triggered. An assessment is underway to determine the reason for this flaw. Despite the faulty operation in this case, the police quickly intervened, and the offender was placed under arrest the same day, the ministry said at the time.
The bracelet may be imposed on offenders sentenced to serve a sentence in the community, on those who are released pending trial or on parole, or on those who have conditions to follow when leaving prison. In all cases, the victim must give their consent before the bracelet is ordered; this cannot and must not be an alternative to a prison sentence when this is required by the circumstances, underlines Mme Mailloux.
“Cases which represent a high risk of recidivism or violent action, [pour] these people, we are going to go towards traditional prison sentences. »
To this day, the system remains dependent on cellular network coverage, which may be partial or even absent in certain sectors of the province, recognizes M.me Mailloux. She explains that each case is analyzed to see if the bracelet can be imposed safely, or if other protective measures for the victim are preferable.
Quebec was a pioneer in establishing this protection system, proudly underlines Mme Mailloux, and is, to date, the only Canadian province to use it.
The ministry is in the process of measuring the effectiveness of the system. Prudente, Mme Mailloux says he cannot yet give figures, but indicates that the efficiency rate would be very high according to the indicators under study.
“When I have the opportunity to speak to a victim who tells me that she has found peace of mind, that she has started to sleep again at night, that, for me, is a success factor. » And for offenders, there is a deterrent aspect “when they realize that we are calling them and that we are really following them”. She hopes that if the program is well known, more women will be tempted to participate if they ever need it.