What is the Partner Assault Response Program (PAR)?

The Partner Assault Response (PAR) Program is a court counseling program that aims at educating individuals how to stop domestic violence and understanding victim safety. This program is usually offered when individuals are facing domestic violence charges. 

Who can participate in PAR?

An individual facing domestic violence charges may be given the opportunity to participate in the PAR program right away upon receiving their disclosure at their first court appearance. In this situation, the Crown has screened your case for participating in the PAR program and upon completion, the accused will be entered into a peace bond, staying the charges, accepting an absolute or conditional discharge, or even a possible suspended sentence. 

In other circumstances, where you have not been given the opportunity to participate in the PAR Program right away, your domestic assault lawyer may have to negotiate with the Crown. An experienced domestic assault lawyer may have discussions with the Crown to let you participate in the program, to hopefully work towards a more favourable resolution. 

It is important to talk to one of our experienced assault criminal lawyers before you agree to participate in the PAR Program and accept the deal being offered to you. Understanding what you are accepting is important to know. Even though your disclosure has been screened for a certain position, you do not have to accept it. Hiring an assault criminal lawyer means they will advocate on your behalf and make sure you receive the best possible resolution available to you. 

It is important to note that just because you have been charged with a domestic violence charge does not mean you will be able to participate in the PAR program. Depending on the allegations, the Crown may deem it inappropriate to enroll someone in the PAR program as the Crown may feel like the accused may not learn from the program’s teachings. We have on several occasions had discussions with Crowns where we were able to convince the Crown to let us enroll our client into the PAR Program and upon successful completion of the program, a more favourable outcome can be discussed. However, everyone’s domestic violence case is different. 

What is taught in the PAR Program?

The PAR Program will teach Individuals non-violent strategies to deal with conflict and how to create and sustain healthy relationships with their partners. 

This is a 12-week program that ranges from 1-2 hours sessions each week. Individuals will be asked to participate at each session and there will be take-home work to do before the next class. Upon completion of the program, you will receive a completion certificate to show in court. 

It is important to actively participate in the PAR program. Individuals cannot just show up and sit there in silence during the session. You must actively engage in discussions, show that you are truly trying to learn from your actions and learn what the program is trying to teach you. It is possible to fail the program and not be given a passing mark to obtain a completion certificate for your domestic violence charge. 

What happens if I fail the PAR Program?

If a participant fails the PAR Program it is possible that the original resolution deal offered prior to taking the program can now be taken away. This is because you have shown that you are not willing to learn and accept some responsibility for your actions. It is also important to note that you can also be kicked out of the program if you miss one of the sessions or come late for a session. It is vital to fully participate in the PAR Program and to make sure you are not kicked out of the program to receive your completion certificate for court. 

Navigating the criminal justice system can be overwhelming and confusing. If you have more questions regarding the PAR Program and your domestic violence assault charge, do not hesitate to contact What The Law, our experienced assault criminal lawyers are here to help!