A peace bond is a court order under section 810 of the Criminal Code that requires a person to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for a specified period, typically 12 months. A peace bond is not a criminal conviction — it is a recognizance with conditions, similar to a promise to the court.
In criminal cases, a peace bond is often used as a resolution that allows criminal charges to be withdrawn. The accused enters into the peace bond, the Crown withdraws the underlying charge, and no criminal record results. Peace bonds are commonly used to resolve less serious domestic assault charges, harassment cases, and uttering threats charges where the complainant and the Crown agree that a peace bond adequately addresses the situation.
The conditions of a peace bond can include: no contact with the complainant, no possession of weapons, attendance at counselling, and good behaviour. Breaching a peace bond condition is a criminal offence. Defence lawyers negotiate peace bond resolutions as an alternative to a trial or a guilty plea — particularly where the evidence is contested but the accused wants to avoid the risk and cost of a trial.