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?
46,160Can the police stop me and ask for my ID?
119,368Do I have to answer police questions if I’m driving or biking?
13,568What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
66,689The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
33,802The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
20,243What are the laws about cannabis and driving?
18,547I was arrested with no warrant. What should I do?
75,835When can the police search me?
44,803What are my rights if the police have a search warrant?
68,039When can the police search my home or business?
8,850Police want to enter my home or business. What are my rights?
54,599Police took my things during a search. Can I get them back?
50,130I’m going to a protest. What do I need to know?
10,818Do I have to give a bodily sample to the police?
31,732What’s included in a police record check?
67,604How do I make a complaint about the police?
28,310Can I sue the police for violating my rights?
84,466Rights of an arrested person
I was arrested with no warrant. What should I do?
75,835What are my rights if I’m detained or arrested?
110,755Do I have to answer police questions when I’m detained or arrested?
29,988Do I have a right to a lawyer if I’m arrested?
19,504What if the police arrest me and do not let me leave?
10,610Can the police let me go without a bail hearing?
12,299What do I do if there’s an arrest warrant for me?
80,955Do I have to go for fingerprinting?
53,580How do I get my fingerprint records destroyed?
50,913How do I make a complaint about the police?
28,310Can I sue the police for violating my rights?
84,466Types of Offences
What is a private prosecution and how do I apply for one?
2,667I’ve been charged with Failure to Attend, Failure to Appear, or Failure to Comply with Undertaking. What do I need to know?
4,472I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
4,014I’ve been charged with Assault. What do I need to know?
6,091I’ve been charged with Criminal Harassment. What do I need to know?
5,897I’ve been charged with Drug Trafficking. What do I need to know?
3,382I’ve been charged with Drug Possession. What do I need to know?
2,966I’ve been charged with Failure to Comply with my bail. What do I need to know?
2,778I’ve been charged with Breach of Probation. What do I need to know?
4,434I’ve been charged with Mischief Under $5,000. What do I need to know?
5,351I’ve been charged with Uttering Threats. What do I need to know?
4,666I’ve been charged with Theft Under $5,000. What do I need to know?
4,327I’ve been charged with Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
4,488I’ve been charged with Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
5,418Alcohol and drug offences
What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
66,689I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
4,014The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
20,243The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
33,802I’ve been charged with Drug Trafficking. What do I need to know?
3,382I’ve been charged with Drug Possession. What do I need to know?
2,966What do the new laws on cannabis mean?
9,378What are the laws about cannabis and driving?
18,547What are the rules about medicinal cannabis?
2,630Assault and criminal harassment
I’ve been charged with Assault. What do I need to know?
6,091I’ve been charged with Criminal Harassment. What do I need to know?
5,897I’ve been charged with Uttering Threats. What do I need to know?
4,666Firearms
I’ve been charged with Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
4,488I’ve been charged with Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
5,418Motor vehicle offences
I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
4,014The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
20,243The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
33,802What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
66,689Bail
I want to change the conditions of my detention release. What can I do?
3,202What is bail?
33,418What are bail conditions?
42,283Do police have to release me after arresting me?
19,246How will the court decide if I get bail?
35,007How should I prepare for my bail hearing?
9,678Can I have another bail hearing if I lose my first one?
14,678Do I have to deposit cash to get bail?
10,166What happens if I do not follow my bail conditions?
85,187My bail says no contact with someone. What do I do if they call me?
61,549How do I change my bail or police undertaking?
33,060What are a surety’s rights and responsibilities?
56,061What if a person doesn’t want to be my surety anymore?
34,618Mental health court and drug treatment court
How do I get into and complete mental health diversion?
5,379I have a mental health issue and I’ve been charged with a crime. What are my options?
4,413What does “fit to stand trial” mean?
3,975What does “not criminally responsible” mean?
4,412What is Drug Treatment Court and how do I participate?
3,461Guilty pleas and sentencing
Can I get criminal charges against someone dropped?
4,533Is sentencing different if I’m Black?
2,908Is sentencing different if I’m Indigenous?
5,099Should I plead guilty?
10,255What does being guilty of a criminal offence mean?
10,733What is a sentencing hearing in a criminal case?
12,480What sentences might I get in my criminal case?
9,819How do I prepare for a guilty plea?
11,483Can I make a plea bargain?
11,074What is a conditional or absolute discharge?
30,081Can I serve my sentence on weekends?
11,026Can I get house arrest instead of going to jail?
22,965Can I be ordered to give a sample of my DNA?
6,489Can the court stop me from having a gun or weapon?
3,325What is the victim fine surcharge?
8,840Immigration consequences
I’m a permanent resident charged with a crime. Will I have to leave Canada?
8,648I’m a permanent resident convicted of a serious crime. What will happen?
6,558I’m not a Canadian citizen. What happens if I commit a crime in Canada?
2,701I’m not a Canadian citizen. What happens if I committed a crime outside Canada?
1,724Peace bonds
How do I apply for a peace bond?
63,225Should I sign a peace bond?
24,854Should I sign a peace bond in my criminal case?
17,252Will peace bonds appear on my criminal record?
37,129What happens if I do not follow a peace bond?
15,444Indigenous rights
What does Gladue mean?
8,173What is a Gladue or Indigenous Peoples Court?
14,268What is Indigenous Diversion?
5,247Are bail hearings different if I’m Indigenous?
3,972Is sentencing different if I’m Indigenous?
5,099Youth criminal justice
I’m under 18 and charged with a crime. What are my rights?
5,955What are my rights as an Indigenous person in youth criminal court?
4,118How are adult court and youth court different?
6,364What is diversion for youth crimes?
4,151How does sentencing work in youth criminal court?
4,135How does having a youth record affect me?
5,624Will a youth record affect my chances of getting a job?
4,555Will a youth record affect me if I want to travel outside Canada?
4,615Going to criminal court
I’m a witness at a criminal trial. What do I need to know?
3,738I have a court date at the Superior Court of Justice. Do I have to go to court in person?
1,828I have a criminal court date at the Ontario Court of Justice. Do I have to go to court in person?
3,085Can I have my criminal law trial in French?
3,163I missed my court date. What happens now?
104,407I cannot make it for my court date. What do I do?
72,659I have an emergency and cannot make it for my court date. What do I do?
80,102Which court should I choose for my trial?
3,860Can I transfer my case to another court?
25,117How can I get my criminal charges dropped?
60,151Should I sign a peace bond in my criminal case?
17,252What is diversion?
38,078What happens on my first court date for a criminal offence?
40,808What documents does the Crown have to give me?
19,517What is a preliminary inquiry?
11,526What is a Crown pre-trial?
25,835What is a judicial pre-trial?
46,586I do not speak English or French. What are my rights?
6,795Police record checks and record suspensions
How do I get a pardon for a cannabis conviction?
1,991How do I get a pardon or a record suspension?
3,077Will a youth record affect me if I want to travel outside Canada?
4,615Will a youth record affect my chances of getting a job?
4,555How does having a youth record affect me?
5,624Will peace bonds appear on my criminal record?
37,129What’s included in a police record check?
67,604How do I get my fingerprint records destroyed?
50,913Getting legal help in criminal law
How do I get a pardon for a cannabis conviction?
1,991How do I get a pardon or a record suspension?
3,077Where can I get a lawyer or paralegal for my criminal case?
7,327I cannot afford a criminal law lawyer. Where can I get free legal help?
11,158How do I apply for a legal aid certificate?
29,945How do I prepare for my meeting with a lawyer or paralegal?
7,931How do I complain about my lawyer’s bill?
21,802How do I complain to the Law Society of Ontario about a lawyer or paralegal?
34,915