In many western countries, there is a emergency helpline 911, for which we can call for any help.
My friend is going though the after effects of calling 911. Sharing it here for the public awareness.
He moved to canada from south asia, few years back. He studied Masters here, then called wife and two kids. His wife got job and he is still looking for a job. Kids are going to school. Life was smooth until three days back.
Just like most of the asian families, quarrels, heated arguments, mini fights are normal in this family. But they dont know that “Normal” has has different meaning in different countries.
three days back his wife was reporting about him to some relatives. He dont want that to happen. he tried to stop the call. As she dont wanted to drop the call, he tried to pull the phone. She got it rigidly. He started to raise his voice, threatened and still trying to pull the phone.
Their daughter saw this and got panicked. She told her dad to stop all these, else she will call to 911.
As he is busy with getting the phone from wife, He told that “Call police. Let them come and do the family counselling for both of us. She is not respecting my requests.”.
Kid dialled 911.
She told that some fight between dad and mom. She got worried to see this. They collected the address and came in 5 minutes.
On seeing the 911 call happened, the fight was stopped. Now all are in panic mode.
After seeing the police, kid and wife were crying on fear. With tears they told that this is normal one and nothing to do. there is no harm, no wound, no big issues.
But, Police told that this is “Domestic Violence”. What is normal in other countries is a crime in Canada. you have to learn, obey and live to the country where you are living.
They told that the call is just for a counselling. In our back home, police wont arrest for family issues. They will try to solve the issue with counseling itself.
But, police rejected their requests.
They arrested him and took with them. Police told her not to worry on his threats here after.
She and kids cried and requested police not to arrest him. But, police had to do their duty.
She worried a lot on how to manage the work, 2 kids and life .
She called police station and asked what is the next steps.
He will be released in conditional bail in a day. Govt will file case against him with section 266. He has to go through the case and close it completely..
It will take 3 or 6 or 9 or 12 months or more for the case to conclude.
– UNTIL THEN HE SHOULD NOT TALK TO HIS WIFE.
– HE SHOULD NOT MEET/CONTACT HER ANYHOW.
– HE SHOULD NOT ENTER THE AREA AROUND HIS HOUSE.
This is the law. With this alone period only, he will understand the importance of living peaceful life with family.
Even she request to withdraw the case, it wont happen. The govt took the case on its hand. no one can stop it.
She took 2-3 days to understand this hard truth and starting to live with loads of tears and sorrows.
266 assualt case starts with level 1 – pushing, slapping, punching, verbal threats and goes to more levels with injuries, wounds etc. But, in this case, there is no injury, no trace of wounds. A simple quarrel went on a push-pull thing to get a phone out of hands.
He came out of jail with the same above conditions mentioned on a report.
He has to look for a new stay. Rents are really crazy. With no job, how to pay for rents and food for 6+ months?
He can not contact his wife for any of the financial support.
He started to look for lawyers.
They confirmed that even though it is a very very minor case, it will take 3/6/9/12 months to close. Till then, he can not talk to his family.
The legal charge to handle this case starts from 3000 CAD to 6000 CAD.
The living expense for a month here is minimum 1200 CAD per month.
The total cost of a single 911 call is 10,000 – 15000 CAD, ( for 6 months ) with a hard seperated living.
We all know that we can call 911 for help. We assume that they will come and do all the family counseling, mental health counselling.
NO.
They will teach the lessons in a really hard, unimaginable, painful way.
Spoke to many friends on this. They told similar horror stories happened for their friends.
if a kid reported against father and mother, they will take the kid out of family and put on a child care center. We are not sure on the what care they will give to the kids. “Care” has different meaning here.
Domestic violense, verbal abuse, quarrel, mini fights are very normal in eastern countries. But, in most matured western countries, the government is not accepting any of the violence against any human.
If you are moving to any new country, just like knowing the traffic rules, social rules, learn the family laws. Treat your partners, kids gently with full respect. If you have any misunderstandings, solve them peacefully or go out for a walk to calm down.
If you have a body in new different cultured country and mind with back home culture, it will lead to life full of horrors.
Read here more for a detailed rules of 266 assault .
Penalties and Long-Term Consequences of a Domestic Assault Conviction
Note – I shared here what I came to know via the friend. I was roaming around with him to find lawyer and new stay for past 3 days.
Until he receives the case details from count, we don’t know what is the reported incident.
There may be many missing information. On any legal things, please refer to original laws and consult with lawyers always.
The Roads I Go 