The Partner Assault Response (PAR) program is a 12-week educational counselling course used in Ontario domestic violence cases. Successfully completing PAR often allows your defence lawyer to negotiate a Conditional Discharge or a Peace Bond with the Crown Attorney, which helps you avoid a permanent criminal conviction.
Understanding Domestic Violence Interventions in Ontario
When Toronto Police respond to a domestic disturbance, their strict “mandatory charge” policy means they must arrest someone if there are reasonable grounds an assault occurred 🚨. This often pulls families with no prior criminal history into the intimidating Ontario Court of Justice system. Fortunately, the Canadian justice system recognizes that education and early intervention are often more effective than simply throwing someone in jail .
This is where the Partner Assault Response (PAR) program comes in 🧐. It is a specialized, court-approved counselling program designed to help individuals understand conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and the impacts of domestic abuse. For an accused person, getting enrolled in PAR is often the absolute best legal strategy, as Crown Attorneys in Toronto frequently use program completion as a prerequisite for offering highly favourable plea deals .
Step-by-Step Process in Toronto
Navigating a domestic assault charge requires patience, as criminal cases in Toronto are now consolidated at the centralized New Toronto Courthouse at 10 Armoury Street (which merged the older, closed court locations in North York, Scarborough, and downtown).
Step 1: Crown Pre-Trial Negotiation
Before you even step into a classroom, your criminal defence lawyer must negotiate with the Crown Attorney 💬. During a Crown Pre-Trial (CPT), your lawyer will advocate for “Early Case Resolution.” If the injuries were minor and you have no prior criminal record, the Crown may offer to drop or discharge the criminal charge on the strict condition that you complete the PAR program .
Step 2: The PAR Intake Interview
Once you agree to the resolution path, you must contact a Toronto-based PAR provider (such as the John Howard Society or Catholic Crosscultural Services) 📞. You will attend a mandatory intake interview where a counsellor assesses your suitability for the program. You must sign a contract agreeing to their strict attendance and participation rules .
Step 3: Completing the 12-Week Course
The program consists of 12 weekly group sessions, each lasting about two hours 🕰️. These classes cover topics like stress management, respectful communication, and understanding the cycle of violence. You are only allowed to miss a class for documented emergencies (like a medical note). Missing classes without permission will result in being kicked out, which severely jeopardizes your plea deal .
Step 4: Final Court Appearance
After successfully finishing all 12 sessions, the PAR provider sends a completion report to the Crown Attorney 📄. You and your lawyer will return to the Ontario Court of Justice at 10 Armoury Street. Depending on the original deal, the Crown will either withdraw the charges in exchange for you signing a Section 810 Peace Bond, or the judge will grant a Conditional Discharge (meaning you plead guilty but are legally discharged without a criminal conviction) .
How Much Does it Cost in Toronto?
Participating in the PAR program and defending a domestic assault charge involves both administrative and legal expenses 💵.
| Program / Service | Estimated Cost in CAD | Details |
|---|---|---|
| PAR Program Fee | $24 – $1,000+ | Sliding scale based purely on your annual income; subsidized down to $2 – $5 per class for OW/ODSP recipients. |
| Criminal Defence Lawyer | $3,000 – $6,000 | Block fee for early case resolution and multiple court dates. |
| Bail Variation (Optional) | $1,000 – $2,500 | Legal fees to lift a “no-contact” order with your partner. |
- Income-Based Pricing: Toronto PAR agencies use a sliding scale subsidized by the Ministry of the Attorney General through Ontario Victim Services. If you are receiving Ontario Works or ODSP, the fee drops to a symbolic rate of $2 to $5 per session ($24 to $60 in total for the full 12-week course). If you earn over $80,000 CAD a year, you will pay the maximum program rate, which ranges up to $1,000+ CAD total.
- Peace Bond Realities: If you resolve via a Peace Bond, you may also have to pledge a nominal amount to the court (e.g., $500 CAD), which you only pay if you break the bond’s rules during the one-year term.
How Long Does the Process Take?
Resolving a case through early intervention is a lengthy commitment ⌛. Securing a spot in a Toronto PAR class can take 1 to 3 months due to massive waitlists. The course itself takes exactly 12 weeks to finish. From the date of your arrest to your final court appearance where the charges are finally resolved, you should expect the entire process to take between 6 to 10 months .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I have to plead guilty before starting the PAR program?
It depends on the specific offer from the Crown. Often, you can enter the PAR program “up front” without entering any plea. Once finished, you then sign a Peace Bond, meaning no guilty plea is ever entered. Other times, you plead guilty, take the course while on probation, and receive a discharge.
Can I live with my partner while taking the PAR program?
When you are arrested, you are usually given strict “no-contact” bail conditions. Simply enrolling in PAR does not automatically lift this ban. Your defence lawyer must formally apply for a bail variation to allow you to communicate or move back in with your partner.
What happens if I fail or get kicked out of PAR?
If you miss too many classes or exhibit disruptive behaviour, the agency will terminate your participation. The Crown Attorney will immediately revoke their lenient plea offer, and your case will likely be pushed towards a full, contested criminal trial.
Will taking PAR leave me with a criminal record?
The goal of taking PAR is specifically to avoid a permanent criminal conviction. If your case ends in a Peace Bond or a Conditional Discharge, you will not have a permanent criminal record. However, the arrest will still appear on vulnerable sector police checks for a period of time.
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