Quebec completes rollout of specialized courts for domestic violence and sexual assault
All 36 judicial districts now have dedicated courts designed to support victims through the legal process. The $230 million investment has assisted 53,000 victims since launch.
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Quebec has completed the rollout of specialized courts for domestic violence and sexual assault across all 36 judicial districts—a model Premier Christine Fréchette called unique in the world.
The rollout was finalized Monday at the Longueuil courthouse, with Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barette announcing completion in the province's 36th and final judicial district. The initiative, which piloted in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield four years ago, required a $230 million investment to create what Jolin-Barette described as a "safety bubble" around victims navigating the legal system.
The courts have trained 14,000 judicial personnel across all levels—from court clerks to judges—and created 129 specialized support worker positions and 83 dedicated prosecutor roles within the Directorate of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions. Since the program's launch, the courts have assisted roughly 53,000 victims of sexual and domestic violence.
Fréchette emphasized the initiative aims to restore victims' trust in the justice system by providing specialized handling tailored to the trauma and complexity of these cases.
