A peace bond is preventive rather than a conviction for the feared future conduct. The applicant asks the court for a recognizance based on the statutory test; if an order is made, conditions can restrict conduct for the authorized period and breach can be a criminal offence.
Primary legislation and official process sources checked October 5, 2026. Criminal law and court procedure can change; verify the current source before relying on a provision or deadline.
Section 810 recognizance
The general peace-bond provision addresses a statutory fear of injury, damage or certain other harm.
- information before a justice
- reasonable grounds
- recognizance
Specialized recognizances
The Code contains additional preventive recognizance provisions for specified feared conduct, including sexual offences and serious personal injury.
- different statutory tests
- specified risks
- special conditions
Hearing process
The person against whom the order is sought may consent to a recognizance or contest whether the statutory grounds are established.
- consent
- evidence
- hearing
Conditions
A recognizance can include conditions authorized by the Code, often involving contact, weapons, places or other risk-management terms.
- no-contact
- weapons
- geographic conditions
Breach and relationship to charges
Breaching a recognizance can itself be criminal. A peace bond does not erase or determine any separate criminal charge.
- breach
- separate prosecution
- record implications
Official and authoritative sources
- Justice Canada — Criminal Code
- Nova Scotia Legal Aid — Criminal Law Resources
- Courts of Nova Scotia — Provincial Court