A no-contact order is a condition of bail or probation that prohibits the accused from communicating with or being in the presence of a named person — typically the complainant. No-contact orders are standard in domestic assault and sexual assault cases and are imposed to protect the complainant from potential harassment, intimidation, or further violence.
In domestic assault cases, a no-contact order can be devastating. If the accused lives with the complainant, the order effectively removes the accused from their own home. If children are involved, the accused may be unable to see them without a separate family court order. The practical consequences are immediate and severe — which is why bail reviews to vary or remove no-contact conditions are a critical part of domestic assault defence.
Breaching a no-contact order is a separate criminal offence under section 145 of the Criminal Code. Even if the complainant initiates contact, the accused commits an offence by responding. Defence counsel advise clients to comply strictly with no-contact orders and to bring any concerns about the conditions to court through a bail review rather than violating them.