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April 15, 2003
For immediate release

Federal/Provincial/Territorial Working Groups Release Reports on Behalf of Ministers Responsible for Justice

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General, Jeffrey Lantz, today announced his receipt of two federal/provincial/territorial reports on family violence. The Final Report of the Ad Hoc F/P/T Working Group Reviewing Spousal Abuse Policies and Legislation and a Report on Sentencing for Manslaughter in Cases Involving Intimate Relationships were completed on behalf of the Ministers Responsible for Justice.

"These working groups were asked to review a number of concerns and issues related to family violence and make recommendations on how improvements could be made to the justice system, and I am pleased to receive their final reports," says Attorney General Lantz.

The report of the Working Group on Spousal Abuse includes eighteen recommendations related to policy, alternative justice processes, domestic violence legislation, interventions for children exposed to domestic violence, training and prevention.

Attorney General Lantz initiated the Report on Sentencing for Manslaughter in Cases Involving Intimate Relationships, due in part to his work with a number of advocacy groups in PEI.

The report of the Sentencing Working Group includes five recommendations related to reopening discussions on defences of provocation, self-defence, and defence of property; public and justice system education; and further research.

"On some of the above-noted recommendations, Prince Edward Island has made significant progress, while further work is required on others," says Attorney General Lantz. "Continuing to develop an effective response to spousal abuse is a key area for the Office of the Attorney General. To demonstrate that commitment, I have asked Deputy Attorney General Patsy MacLean to chair a committee to build on the momentum and work that has already been achieved and help us to move forward."

The Attorney General will be inviting key community and government representatives to take part in a committee to review, assess progress through a report card mechanism, and implement, where possible, the recommendations from the reports. The committee will be asked to report to the Attorney General and to the Premier's Action Committee on Family Violence Prevention on their activities within one year.

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Media Contact: Jennifer MacLeod
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