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Essay about Family Violence in Canada

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Family violence is a multifaceted problem in Canada. In the last 20 years, the majority of the provinces and territories have created legislation to address the issue (1). As of 2011, 26% of all crime in Canada was that of family violence with the majority of the victims being female (2). The economic impact in Canada is estimated to be $7.4 billion with over 80% of that cost falling to the victim (3). While the prosecution of these crimes is high, the conviction rate remains low (4). The pathologist Sir Bernard Spilsbury stated, “Bruises are a much neglected branch of injuries” (5). Given that 71% of the reported family violence cases are physical assaults, most of these victims will have bruises of various ages (6). In such cases, …show more content…

It would not be until the 1990s that a paper would highlight the importance of the determination of the bruise age as evidence and to begin the scientific study this subject. The researchers first conducted a review of the scientific material in regards to bruise age estimation. This review showed that the science behind the estimation of bruise age was significantly lacking (5). These researchers also conducted visual scientific study of the bruise age based on colouration observed and the known time of injury (5). They examined photographs of bruises of various individuals against a colour chart in order to asses the colouration seen versus the age of the bruise (5). They established one of the first timelines for the estimation of the bruise age through the colours observed in a bruise. This study is beneficial to the furtherance of the science behind the estimation of bruise age. Firstly, this study highlighted the need for the scientific determination of bruise age for forensic evidence (5). The researchers were motivated by the recent cases of family violence and the need for stronger evidence in these cases (5). Secondly, it presented the lack of scientific rigour applied to the determination of bruising (5). By highlighting the issues within the scientific community regarding the determination of bruise age, they could define where the research was lacking

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