1st person in Quebec equipped with domestic violence tracking bracelet

A 23-year-old man recently sentenced to one year in prison for threatening to kill hisformer partner is expected to be become the first person in Quebecto be equipped witha tracking bracelet designed to keep violent partners and people accused of domestic violence away from victims.

The tracking system, involving a bracelet for the offender and a notification device for the person the offender has been ordered to stay away from,alerts thevictimif the offender is within a radius of onekilometre of their location.

Yan Bdard was convicted for eventsinvolving his former partner which took place in October 2021, but ashe'd already served two-thirds of his sentence indetention pending his trial last April, he will be released Friday. A hearing was held last week to determine the conditions of his release.

In December, Quebec announced the rollout of the tracking devices as the latest in the government'sseries ofinitiativesto fight domestic violence, in a year where the province hadbeen shaken by the deaths of well over a dozen women.

Fearing for the safety of Bdard's ex-wife upon his release, the director of criminal and penal prosecutions (DPCP) suggested thathe be required to wear a tracking bracelet, in addition to the other usual restrictions, including communicating his address to the court, appearingin court when requested, not possessing weapons.

Bdard initially refused this injunction, but after being advised to speak with alegal aid lawyer about the matter,later reversed his decision.

Bdard will have to wear the ankle braceletat all times. According to the government, should the wearer enter what the provincedescribesas a "pre-alert" zone, meaning that they aregetting closer to the person in need of protection, authorities will advise them.

If the wearer enters an "alert" zone, and is essentially in breach ofconditions, both the authorities and the person in need of protection will be notified, and police officers will head to that person's home to make sure they are safe.

Bdard has indicated that he will contest the measure. In the meantime, he will be the first person convicted of domestic violence in Quebec to be equipped with such a device.