Glossary
In Criminal Law
Temporary absences are a type of release you might get if you’re serving a sentence in jail. Temporary absences may be escorted or unescorted. You might be allowed to have a temporary absence for:
- work on a community service project
- contact with family
- personal development
- medical reasons
In Criminal Law
It is a criminal offence to not surrender into custody when you’re required to. For example, if you’re serving an intermittent sentence and you do not go back to jail on time, a warrant can be issued for your arrest, charging you with unlawfully being at large.
In Criminal Law, Types of Offences, Bail, Probation, and Court Attendance, Assault, Driving, Drugs, Firearms, Gender-based violence, Harassment, Mischief, Theft, Threats, Victims and witnesses
Uttering threats is a crime when someone threatens to harm or kill a person or animal, or damage or destroy property.
It can also be a crime to threaten someone to force them to do something, or not do something. This is called extortion.
In Criminal Law
Victim impact statements help the judge understand how the complainant or victim in your case has been affected by the crime. In a victim impact statement the complainant or victim can tell the court about the emotional, financial, physical, or other impacts the crime has had on them. If there is a victim impact statement, the judge must consider it when sentencing you.
In Criminal Law, Types of Offences, Bail, Probation, and Court Attendance, Assault, Driving, Drugs, Firearms, Gender-based violence, Harassment, Mischief, Theft, Threats, Victims and witnesses
Voyeurism is when someone looks at or records a person in a private situation, or for a sexual purpose, without them knowing about it or agreeing to it. For example, installing a hidden camera in a person’s bedroom or bathroom, or taking screenshots during an intimate video chat.
In Criminal Law
A warrant is a court order that tells a peace officer to do something such as arrest someone, seize something, or enforce a judicial order.
In Criminal Law
A weapons prohibition order can be included in your sentence if you’re convicted of certain crimes. You will not be allowed to possess any firearm, cross-bow, prohibited weapon, restricted weapon, prohibited device, ammunition, or explosive substance during the period of time set out in the order.
In Criminal Law
A charge is withdrawn when the Crown decides that the case either cannot be proven or there are some public interest reasons why the case should not proceed. Once a case is withdrawn, it is very hard to bring it back to court, though it can happen in exceptional cases.
If your charges are withdrawn:
- you will have no more court appearances for the charges
- you will not be found guilty of the charges
- you are free to go unconditionally
In Criminal Law
When the Crown decides to stop prosecuting a person, the charges against that person are either withdrawn or stayed.
If your charges are withdrawn:
- You will have no more court appearances for the charges.
- You will not be found guilty of the charges.
- You are free to go unconditionally.