When the justice system is dealing with a perpetrator, whether of spousal or sexual violence, the zero-tolerance message has to be clear. When someone abuses his wife and is sentenced to two years less a day to be served at home, without therapy, a very poor message is being sent with respect to violence against women, because it means that it is condoned.
When we have people before us whose behaviour has been repetitive over time—spousal violence and sexual assault are behaviours at high risk of being repeated—the justice system has to make the perpetrator responsible and legislation has to be consequential with respect to this accountability process. Contradictory messages are sometimes sent.