Criminal Law
- Police stops and searches
- Rights of an arrested person
- Types of Offences
- Alcohol and drug offences
- Assault and criminal harassment
- Firearms
- Motor vehicle offences
- Bail
- Mental health court and drug treatment court
- Guilty pleas and sentencing
- Immigration consequences
- Peace bonds
- Indigenous rights
- Youth criminal justice
- Going to criminal court
- Police record checks and record suspensions
- Getting legal help in criminal law
- Police complaints
- Victims and witnesses
All questions by topic
Police stops and searches
Can police just approach me and ask me questions?
46,099Can the police stop me and ask for my ID?
119,290Do I have to answer police questions if I’m driving or biking?
13,513What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
66,622The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
33,746The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
20,196What are the laws about cannabis and driving?
18,508I was arrested with no warrant. What should I do?
75,773When can the police search me?
44,747What are my rights if the police have a search warrant?
67,981When can the police search my home or business?
8,805Police want to enter my home or business. What are my rights?
54,539Police took my things during a search. Can I get them back?
50,073I’m going to a protest. What do I need to know?
10,755Do I have to give a bodily sample to the police?
31,686What’s included in a police record check?
67,550How do I make a complaint about the police?
28,251Can I sue the police for violating my rights?
84,358Rights of an arrested person
I was arrested with no warrant. What should I do?
75,773What are my rights if I’m detained or arrested?
110,686Do I have to answer police questions when I’m detained or arrested?
29,929Do I have a right to a lawyer if I’m arrested?
19,464What if the police arrest me and do not let me leave?
10,569Can the police let me go without a bail hearing?
12,264What do I do if there’s an arrest warrant for me?
80,902Do I have to go for fingerprinting?
53,522How do I get my fingerprint records destroyed?
50,860How do I make a complaint about the police?
28,251Can I sue the police for violating my rights?
84,358Types of Offences
What is a private prosecution and how do I apply for one?
2,610I’ve been charged with Failure to Attend, Failure to Appear, or Failure to Comply with Undertaking. What do I need to know?
4,412I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
3,959I’ve been charged with Assault. What do I need to know?
6,029I’ve been charged with Criminal Harassment. What do I need to know?
5,835I’ve been charged with Drug Trafficking. What do I need to know?
3,328I’ve been charged with Drug Possession. What do I need to know?
2,923I’ve been charged with Failure to Comply with my bail. What do I need to know?
2,737I’ve been charged with Breach of Probation. What do I need to know?
4,379I’ve been charged with Mischief Under $5,000. What do I need to know?
5,301I’ve been charged with Uttering Threats. What do I need to know?
4,607I’ve been charged with Theft Under $5,000. What do I need to know?
4,279I’ve been charged with Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
4,433I’ve been charged with Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
5,361Alcohol and drug offences
What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
66,622I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
3,959The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
20,196The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
33,746I’ve been charged with Drug Trafficking. What do I need to know?
3,328I’ve been charged with Drug Possession. What do I need to know?
2,923What do the new laws on cannabis mean?
9,343What are the laws about cannabis and driving?
18,508What are the rules about medicinal cannabis?
2,599Assault and criminal harassment
I’ve been charged with Assault. What do I need to know?
6,029I’ve been charged with Criminal Harassment. What do I need to know?
5,835I’ve been charged with Uttering Threats. What do I need to know?
4,607Firearms
I’ve been charged with Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
4,433I’ve been charged with Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
5,361Motor vehicle offences
I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
3,959The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
20,196The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
33,746What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
66,622Bail
I want to change the conditions of my detention release. What can I do?
3,152What is bail?
33,363What are bail conditions?
42,231Do police have to release me after arresting me?
19,196How will the court decide if I get bail?
34,958How should I prepare for my bail hearing?
9,627Can I have another bail hearing if I lose my first one?
14,632Do I have to deposit cash to get bail?
10,117What happens if I do not follow my bail conditions?
85,138My bail says no contact with someone. What do I do if they call me?
61,473How do I change my bail or police undertaking?
32,992What are a surety’s rights and responsibilities?
55,924What if a person doesn’t want to be my surety anymore?
34,543Mental health court and drug treatment court
How do I get into and complete mental health diversion?
5,311I have a mental health issue and I’ve been charged with a crime. What are my options?
4,359What does “fit to stand trial” mean?
3,926What does “not criminally responsible” mean?
4,362What is Drug Treatment Court and how do I participate?
3,410Guilty pleas and sentencing
Can I get criminal charges against someone dropped?
4,470Is sentencing different if I’m Black?
2,859Is sentencing different if I’m Indigenous?
5,055Should I plead guilty?
10,214What does being guilty of a criminal offence mean?
10,686What is a sentencing hearing in a criminal case?
12,431What sentences might I get in my criminal case?
9,759How do I prepare for a guilty plea?
11,450Can I make a plea bargain?
11,020What is a conditional or absolute discharge?
30,038Can I serve my sentence on weekends?
10,978Can I get house arrest instead of going to jail?
22,916Can I be ordered to give a sample of my DNA?
6,454Can the court stop me from having a gun or weapon?
3,290What is the victim fine surcharge?
8,779Immigration consequences
I’m a permanent resident charged with a crime. Will I have to leave Canada?
8,606I’m a permanent resident convicted of a serious crime. What will happen?
6,506I’m not a Canadian citizen. What happens if I commit a crime in Canada?
2,647I’m not a Canadian citizen. What happens if I committed a crime outside Canada?
1,685Peace bonds
How do I apply for a peace bond?
63,097Should I sign a peace bond?
24,797Should I sign a peace bond in my criminal case?
17,198Will peace bonds appear on my criminal record?
37,069What happens if I do not follow a peace bond?
15,396Indigenous rights
What does Gladue mean?
8,125What is a Gladue or Indigenous Peoples Court?
14,218What is Indigenous Diversion?
5,205Are bail hearings different if I’m Indigenous?
3,940Is sentencing different if I’m Indigenous?
5,055Youth criminal justice
I’m under 18 and charged with a crime. What are my rights?
5,905What are my rights as an Indigenous person in youth criminal court?
4,072How are adult court and youth court different?
6,314What is diversion for youth crimes?
4,108How does sentencing work in youth criminal court?
4,094How does having a youth record affect me?
5,581Will a youth record affect my chances of getting a job?
4,504Will a youth record affect me if I want to travel outside Canada?
4,551Going to criminal court
I’m a witness at a criminal trial. What do I need to know?
3,667I have a court date at the Superior Court of Justice. Do I have to go to court in person?
1,790I have a criminal court date at the Ontario Court of Justice. Do I have to go to court in person?
3,035Can I have my criminal law trial in French?
3,120I missed my court date. What happens now?
104,326I cannot make it for my court date. What do I do?
72,609I have an emergency and cannot make it for my court date. What do I do?
80,057Which court should I choose for my trial?
3,817Can I transfer my case to another court?
25,073How can I get my criminal charges dropped?
60,087Should I sign a peace bond in my criminal case?
17,198What is diversion?
38,000What happens on my first court date for a criminal offence?
40,747What documents does the Crown have to give me?
19,464What is a preliminary inquiry?
11,477What is a Crown pre-trial?
25,744What is a judicial pre-trial?
46,507I do not speak English or French. What are my rights?
6,757Police record checks and record suspensions
How do I get a pardon for a cannabis conviction?
1,945How do I get a pardon or a record suspension?
3,028Will a youth record affect me if I want to travel outside Canada?
4,551Will a youth record affect my chances of getting a job?
4,504How does having a youth record affect me?
5,581Will peace bonds appear on my criminal record?
37,069What’s included in a police record check?
67,550How do I get my fingerprint records destroyed?
50,860Getting legal help in criminal law
How do I get a pardon for a cannabis conviction?
1,945How do I get a pardon or a record suspension?
3,028Where can I get a lawyer or paralegal for my criminal case?
7,278I cannot afford a criminal law lawyer. Where can I get free legal help?
11,109How do I apply for a legal aid certificate?
29,867How do I prepare for my meeting with a lawyer or paralegal?
7,872How do I complain about my lawyer’s bill?
21,730How do I complain to the Law Society of Ontario about a lawyer or paralegal?
34,851