Peace bond

A criminal court order that sets out specific conditions to protect someone’s safety or property.

Peace bonds (or recognizances) are used where a person seems likely to commit a criminal offence but there are no reasonable grounds to believe they already committed the offence. Peace bonds may also be issued to resolve criminal charges. For example, if the person causing harm is charged with assault, the Crown prosecutor may agree to withdraw the charges if the person enters into a peace bond.