Glossary - Abuse and Family Violence

cross-examination

In Abuse and Family Violence, Criminal Law, Family Law

Cross-examination is when one party, or their lawyer if they have one, questions the other party’s witnesses. The purpose of cross-examination is to test how true and reliable a witness’ answers are.

Crown Attorney

In Abuse and Family Violence, Family Law

The Crown Attorney, sometimes called the prosecutor, is a government lawyer who presents the case against the person accused of a crime in criminal court. They work for the government and are not the victim’s lawyer.

Crown ward

In Child abuse and neglect, Family Law

A Crown ward is a child under the age of 18 years who has been taken away from their parents’ care by the court and is in the care of a children’s aid society (CAS). The CAS makes all of the decisions for the child that their parents would normally make.

custody

In Child abuse and neglect, Domestic violence, Family Law

The new term for custody is decision-making responsibility for most family law cases. If you have a child protection case, the term custody may still be used.

Decision-making responsibility or custody is the right to make important decisions about how to care for and raise a child. It includes the right to make decisions about the child’s health, education, religion, and important extra-curricular activities.

The parents can agree to or the court can give:

  • one parent all decision-making responsibility,
  • 2 or more parents decision-making responsibility, or
  • different parents separate responsibilities, for example, one parent makes decisions about the child’s health and another parent makes decisions about the child’s religion.
customary care

In Abuse and Family Violence, Family Law

Customary care is the type of care a First Nations, Inuk, or Métis child might get if they cannot be cared for by their parents. It means the child is cared for in a way that considers their First Nations, Inuk, or Métis community’s culture, heritage, traditions, and who they see as family.

direct examination

In Abuse and Family Violence, Family Law, Tribunals and Courts

Direct examination is when one party, or their lawyer if they have one, questions their own witnesses. These are witnesses you ask to testify or speak in support of your court case.

Direct examination is also called examination-in-chief.

duty counsel

In Abuse and Family Violence, Family Law

Duty counsel are private lawyers or Legal Aid Ontario staff lawyers who give legal help right away to people who appear in court that day without a lawyer if their income is low enough.

They give free legal advice and can help negotiate and settle issues, but they cannot take on a whole case or represent a person at trial.

elder abuse

In Abuse and Family Violence, Elder abuse, Health and Disability, Long‑term care

Elder abuse happens when someone limits or controls an older person’s rights and freedoms. The person often becomes afraid and thinks that they can no longer make their own choices.

Abusers are often people who the person trusts. Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, or financial. It can also be abuse if a person is neglected. Neglect happens when someone agrees to provide care to an older adult but does not look after their basic needs.

All abuse is wrong and is not the fault of the person who’s abused. But not all abuse is a crime. For example, if a caregiver tells someone they’re worthless, that’s abuse, not a crime. If a caregiver hits an older adult, that’s a crime.

extended society care

In Child abuse and neglect, Family Law

A child is in extended society care when they are in the care and custody of the Children’s Aid Society and they have to stay in their care until one of the following happens:

  • the court changes the order
  • the child turns 18
  • the child gets married
  • the child is adopted
family violence

In Abuse and Family Violence, Criminal Law, Family Law

Family violence refers to the many different forms of abuse, neglect, or harm that an adult or child may experience in their close, personal relationships.

It is also called domestic violence or partner abuse when one partner abuses the other partner.

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