Systemic Sexism and Bias in the Ottawa Police Service: How Peace Bonds Are Misused in Cases of Domestic Abuse

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) has faced increasing criticism in recent years over its handling of domestic abuse cases, particularly those involving female victims. A concerning pattern has emerged where men accused of abuse weaponize the legal system against their former partners, often with the police’s tacit support. One common tool in this pattern is the misuse of peace bonds, meant to protect, but often used to further control and manipulate ex-wives. This article explores the systemic sexism and bias within the OPS, highlighting how peace bonds, when applied improperly, can perpetuate abuse.

What Is a Peace Bond?

A peace bond is a legal agreement in which one party agrees to abide by specific conditions for a set period, typically to prevent them from contacting or harassing another person. These are often used in domestic situations where a party fears for their safety but lacks the evidence necessary to pursue criminal charges. A peace bond does not require the same burden of proof as criminal proceedings, making it an easier mechanism for resolving disputes in a way that appears neutral on the surface.

However, in the wrong hands, peace bonds can become a tool of control rather than protection. Men accused of domestic abuse often reverse the tables by filing for peace bonds against their ex-wives, exploiting systemic biases that fail to recognize coercive control and manipulation tactics.

Systemic Bias: The Ottawa Police Service’s Failures

The OPS has been criticized for a lack of understanding and sensitivity in cases involving domestic abuse, particularly when it comes to handling women’s allegations. Studies have shown that law enforcement agencies often fail to take women’s reports of abuse seriously, and this is no exception in Ottawa. A 2020 review of the OPS revealed that male officers disproportionately view female victims of domestic violence as “untrustworthy” or “exaggerating” their claims .

Key examples of systemic bias within OPS:

 1. Failure to Properly Investigate Abuse Claims: Female survivors of domestic abuse frequently report that the OPS fails to thoroughly investigate their complaints against male ex-partners. In many cases, allegations of harassment, stalking, or intimidation are minimized or dismissed, forcing women to seek peace bonds as a last resort, despite the ongoing threat of violence  .
 2. Peace Bonds as a Weapon of Control: Abusers often file for peace bonds not to protect themselves, but to prevent their ex-wives from contacting them, even when contact is necessary for co-parenting or resolving legal disputes. This is particularly concerning when women attempt to report ongoing abuse or harassment, only to be countered with peace bond filings by their abusers. This legal reversal allows men to control the narrative, claiming to be victims while continuing their patterns of abuse .
 3. Gender Bias in Police Response: Women are often treated with skepticism when reporting harassment or threats from their ex-partners. Many women report feeling as though police officers question their credibility or imply that they are “overreacting.” This dismissive attitude not only discourages women from seeking help but emboldens abusers to manipulate the legal system to their advantage. An Ottawa woman interviewed by local media shared how her ex-husband filed multiple peace bonds against her, despite him being the subject of ongoing harassment and stalking allegations  .

The Legal System’s Role in Perpetuating Abuse

Despite the intent behind peace bonds as a protective measure, the legal system can fail to recognize the nuances of coercive control—a form of domestic abuse in which the abuser manipulates their victim through psychological, emotional, and legal means. In cases where peace bonds are issued against female victims, this can create a chilling effect. Women are often forced into silence out of fear of violating the peace bond, even when they need to contact their ex-partners regarding their children or other vital issues.

Recent Cases and Public Outcry:

Several recent cases highlight the pervasive problem of gender bias in Ottawa’s legal system. In 2022, a woman seeking protection from her abusive ex-husband was countered with a peace bond filed against her. Her ex-husband alleged that her attempts to secure child support constituted harassment. Despite her long-standing complaints of emotional and psychological abuse, the peace bond was granted, restricting her communication and effectively silencing her .

In another case, a survivor of narcissistic abuse shared how her ex-husband used the peace bond system to continue his psychological manipulation. Despite clear evidence of his controlling behavior, the OPS and the courts failed to recognize the ongoing abuse, instead treating the situation as a mutual conflict between two parties .

Calls for Change

Women’s advocacy groups in Ottawa have long called for reform in the OPS, demanding better training for officers to recognize and appropriately respond to domestic abuse, particularly coercive control. Many argue that the peace bond system needs to be reformed to prevent its misuse by abusers.

In 2019, the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability published a report calling for an overhaul of police training, emphasizing the importance of understanding gendered violence. The report also highlighted how law enforcement often fails to recognize the signs of coercive control, allowing abusers to continue their manipulative tactics through the legal system .

The Path Forward

Addressing the systemic sexism within the Ottawa Police Service requires both cultural and procedural changes. First, officers must be trained to recognize patterns of coercive control and psychological abuse, which are often less visible but just as harmful as physical violence. Second, the legal system must be updated to ensure that peace bonds cannot be misused by abusers to further harass their victims.

Survivors and their advocates must continue to push for accountability and reform. Without these changes, the very tools designed to protect victims will continue to be exploited by abusers, with the OPS’s complicity.

References

 1. Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability. (2019). “Report on Gendered Violence and the Role of Law Enforcement.” Available at femicideincanada.ca.
 2. Ottawa Citizen. (2022). “Ottawa Woman Fights Back Against Misuse of Peace Bond System in Domestic Abuse Case.”
 3. Canadian Women’s Foundation. (2020). “Understanding Coercive Control in Domestic Violence.”
 4. House of Commons, Canada. (2020). “Review of Police Responses to Domestic Violence.”
 5. CBC News Ottawa. (2020). “Allegations of Gender Bias Within the Ottawa Police Service in Handling Domestic Violence Cases.”