Glossary
In Criminal Law
This is a person who alleges that they are the victim of a criminal offence. For example, in an assault case, the complainant is the person who says they were assaulted.
In Criminal Law
A conditional discharge is a type of sentence. A conditional discharge means that the court found you guilty, but you do not get a criminal record. Part of your sentence will include probation for up to 3 years. Your probation will require you to follow specific conditions. If you do not, you might get a criminal record and a tougher sentence or be charged with another criminal offence. A sentence is the punishment that the court gives you if you’re found guilty. Conditional discharges are automatically removed from the Canadian Police Information Centre computer system 3 years after the court’s decision.
In Criminal Law
A conditional sentence is a type of sentence that you might get if you’re convicted of a crime. If you get a conditional sentence, you do not go to jail. Instead, you serve time in the community on house arrest.
In Criminal Law
A conviction is a type of criminal sentence that includes a permanent criminal record.
If a judge or jury finds you guilty of a crime, the judge decides your sentence. The judge can either convict you or discharge you.
But if you’re a young person under age 18, the judge is not allowed to convict you. They can only give you a youth sentence.
If the judge convicts you, the judge will give you a punishment like a fine, probation, or jail time. You’ll also have a permanent criminal record.
If the judge gives you an absolute discharge, you’ll have no punishment and no criminal record. You are free to go.
If the judge gives you a conditional discharge, you’ll have no punishment but you’ll have to follow certain rules until the conditional discharge is finished. The conditional discharge can last for up to 3 years. You will have a temporary criminal record until the conditional discharge is finished.
In Criminal Law
A correctional officer is someone who is responsible for the safety, security, and supervision of people serving sentences of 2 years or more in federal prison.
In Criminal Law
A daily list of all the cases that will be addressed in the courtroom on that day. It is usally posted on the courtroom door.
In Criminal Law
A court order is a decision made by a judge or justice of the peace. It may require you to do or not do something for a period of time. If you do not follow the court order, there could be legal consequences, including being charged with a criminal offence.
In Criminal Law
This is a criminal offence. It is a serious criminal offence to cause someone to fear for their safety by:
- repeatedly follow someone from place to place
- repeatedly communicating with someone, directly or indirectly
- watching the home, or place where a person lives, works, or happens to be, or
- engaging in threatening conduct directed at someone or a member of their family
If you are convicted, you can be sentenced to up to 10 years in jail.
In Criminal Law
If a temporary resident or applicant for permanent residence has been involved in criminal activity, they may be not allowed to enter Canada because they are considered criminally inadmissible. You can apply for criminal rehabilitation to overcome criminal inadmissibility. Criminal rehabilitation involves meeting certain criteria established by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
In Abuse and Family Violence, Criminal Law, Family Law
Cross-examination is when one party, or their lawyer if they have one, questions the other party’s witnesses. The purpose of cross-examination is to test how true and reliable a witness’ answers are.