Côté cour:  Help for victims of spousal and domestic violence

Within the walls of the Montréal courthouse, a special psycho-social advocacy service for victims of spousal and domestic violence has been operating since 1985. This service is called Côté cour.

Côté cour,which operates under the auspices of the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services, was developed to create a network of legal and social service providers to help the victims of domestic violence whose situations come to the court’s attention. The service is the first access point for every victim of spousal or domestic violence involved in a case being tried in the Greater Montreal area.    

Once a police officer makes an arrest, the victims are referred to Côté cour, where an advocate is assigned to them and follows their case until the conclusion of the judicial process, and sometimes beyond. This initial intervention is designed to keep victims safe and offer them immediate help during the initial crisis and throughout this stressful process.

Initially, victims are contacted by telephone to let them know about bail conditions imposed on the accused. On the day the victim is required to appear in court to testify against the accused, the advocate meets the victim before court begins, in Côté cour’s secure offices. The advocates support the victims throughout their dealings with the legal system, advising them of their rights and options, connecting them to a network of resources for themselves and their children, and ensuring that the system respects their rights and needs. The advocates also work directly with the police officers and prosecutors on the case, and they help victims make any connections they need with services and involving immigration, youth, criminal and civil law.

The Côté cour’s team is trained to assess danger to the victims, and to calculate the risk of recidivism in situations of spousal and domestic violence. They assess the risk in every case, and that assessment guides the prosecutor. The advocates also make recommendations to the Crown attorney regarding any criminal charges.  If advocates believe a situation is at risk of escalating, Côté cour’s offers a brief follow‑up meeting and refers the victim to the most appropriate resource.

Because victims face many challenges in dealing with the legal system, which can be complex and intimidating, Côté cour’s intervention helps victims make more informed decisions. In every case, an advocate works with a victim to map out a history of abuse, helping mothers to better understand the consequences of the violence and the way it has affected their children.

In 2006, 7,000 women, men and children met with an advocate from Côté cour’s . For most of them, it was their first contact with any kind of advocate.  

The service’s central position in the legal system and the social network, as well as the large number of clients it has helped, have opened the door to establishing  interdisciplinary protocols with the police regarding the testimony of child witnesses, and of victims of domestic violence.

Côté cour’s has also established protocols and individual relationships with every local community service centre, or CLSC, and with youth centres throughout Montréal. The advocates ensure that all interventions are consistent across these services, and promote the sharing of expertise. The service also works with providers of services for violent spouses, and with the network of women’s shelters.

Whether through the daily exchange of information among Côté cour’s and other social or legal players, in its recommendations to prosecutors, in assessing the risk of recidivism in situations of spousal violence, or in training prosecutors and CLSC and shelter staff, Côté cour’s is constantly rediscovering its purpose. The service continues to strengthen the collaboration among the legal, health and social services network, striving always to provide the best possible assistance to victims of spousal and domestic violence.

Claudine Simon
Côté Cour