Helping Intimate Partner Violence Survivors Navigate Criminal Docket Court

Who it’s for:    
Victims of intimate partner violence involved in criminal docket court, all genders     

Location:        
Recommended contact is by phone, email, and virtual; Limited services are available in-person at Edmonton Law Courts (outside courtroom 268)

Contact:          
Call 780.540.7880 or email us

Hours:
In-person: Monday, Wednesdays, Fridays before noon
By Phone: 8:00 am – 12 pm, 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Closed on statutory holidays 

Applying:
Referrals provided by the Edmonton Police Services

The Nalah program offers FREE support and advocacy for victims (complainants) of intimate partner violence (IPV). A dedicated caseworker is assigned to be a single point of contact for victims and survivors of IPV navigating criminal docket court. (What is docket court?)

  • The Nalah Centre supports victims of intimate partner violence on charged IPV files.
  • The case workers offer support from the time of the incident until the matter is resolved in criminal court.

Services Provided by Case Workers

  • Information on the criminal docket court process, including:
    • Court updates
    • Bail hearing outcomes
    • Release conditions
    • Court orientation
  • Information on Victim’s Rights and assistance completing Victim of Crime documents.
  • Discussion of the complainant’s wishes regarding conditions and court outcomes – shared during Early Case Conferencing (ECC) meetings with:
    • Members from the Crown Prosecutor’s office
    • Edmonton Police Service
    • Children and Family Services
    • Probation 
    • Defense/Duty Counsel
  • Ongoing emotional support
  • Safety planning
  • Resources and referrals to community agencies

Nalah Centre provided services to 1,504 victims of intimate partner violence.

100% of surveyed Crown Prosecutors reported increased efficiency in Edmonton’s courtrooms in cases where the program was involved. (2024)

Note: The Nalah Centre does NOT provide legal advice, make decisions for clients or provide assistance in cases other than IPV (including broader-reaching ‘family violence’ cases involving non-intimate partners).

Download Program Diagram

Learn How Nalah Can Help

Call 780.540.7880 or email us.

Our Program Partners

The Nalah Centre is operated by enCompass with the support of our partners: Crown Prosecutor’s Office, Edmonton Police Service, Community Corrections, Ministry of Children and Family Services. Funding for the project is received through Public Safety and Emergency Services.

At enCompass, we use the terms ‘survivor’ and ‘victim’ interchangeably, recognizing that each individual may relate more closely to one term over the other. We honour and respect the diverse experiences and identities of those affected by family violence and strive to provide inclusive, compassionate support for all.

FAQ

What is Docket Court?

Docket court is a scheduled court session where multiple cases are reviewed in a short timeframe. These hearings focus on procedural matters such as check-ins, scheduling future court dates, and reviewing conditions. They are typically brief and do not involve full trials. Once an individual pleads guilty or not guilty, the matter is moved out of docket court, into sentencing and/or is set for trial.

What is the difference between Nalah and DVCAP?

Both programs are here to support victims and survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Both provide information on the legal process, as well as support services to ensure the safety of victims and family members.

Nalah is for those appearing before docket court – which is a preliminary step to determine if the case should proceed to trial, or be handled through an early case resolution. It is the level of court where the person charged will either plead ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty.’ This program is exclusively for victims of Intimate Partner Violence (vs. the broader category of domestic violence).

The Domestic Violence Complainant Assistance Program (DVCAP) provides guidance and information to support victims as they navigate the Domestic Violence Court or King’s Bench Criminal Court.