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?
46,010Can the police stop me and ask for my ID?
119,203Do I have to answer police questions if I’m driving or biking?
13,448What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
66,544The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
33,683The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
20,142What are the laws about cannabis and driving?
18,466I was arrested with no warrant. What should I do?
75,709When can the police search me?
44,680What are my rights if the police have a search warrant?
67,910When can the police search my home or business?
8,750Police want to enter my home or business. What are my rights?
54,475Police took my things during a search. Can I get them back?
50,002I’m going to a protest. What do I need to know?
10,682Do I have to give a bodily sample to the police?
31,633What’s included in a police record check?
67,482How do I make a complaint about the police?
28,180Can I sue the police for violating my rights?
84,238Rights of an arrested person
I was arrested with no warrant. What should I do?
75,709What are my rights if I’m detained or arrested?
110,601Do I have to answer police questions when I’m detained or arrested?
29,871Do I have a right to a lawyer if I’m arrested?
19,416What if the police arrest me and do not let me leave?
10,516Can the police let me go without a bail hearing?
12,210What do I do if there’s an arrest warrant for me?
80,838Do I have to go for fingerprinting?
53,444How do I get my fingerprint records destroyed?
50,793How do I make a complaint about the police?
28,180Can I sue the police for violating my rights?
84,238Types of Offences
What is a private prosecution and how do I apply for one?
2,541I’ve been charged with Failure to Attend, Failure to Appear, or Failure to Comply with Undertaking. What do I need to know?
4,335I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
3,906I’ve been charged with Assault. What do I need to know?
5,941I’ve been charged with Criminal Harassment. What do I need to know?
5,767I’ve been charged with Drug Trafficking. What do I need to know?
3,272I’ve been charged with Drug Possession. What do I need to know?
2,877I’ve been charged with Failure to Comply with my bail. What do I need to know?
2,686I’ve been charged with Breach of Probation. What do I need to know?
4,325I’ve been charged with Mischief Under $5,000. What do I need to know?
5,233I’ve been charged with Uttering Threats. What do I need to know?
4,527I’ve been charged with Theft Under $5,000. What do I need to know?
4,223I’ve been charged with Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
4,358I’ve been charged with Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
5,269Alcohol and drug offences
What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
66,544I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
3,906The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
20,142The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
33,683I’ve been charged with Drug Trafficking. What do I need to know?
3,272I’ve been charged with Drug Possession. What do I need to know?
2,877What do the new laws on cannabis mean?
9,305What are the laws about cannabis and driving?
18,466What are the rules about medicinal cannabis?
2,567Assault and criminal harassment
I’ve been charged with Assault. What do I need to know?
5,941I’ve been charged with Criminal Harassment. What do I need to know?
5,767I’ve been charged with Uttering Threats. What do I need to know?
4,527Firearms
I’ve been charged with Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
4,358I’ve been charged with Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
5,269Motor vehicle offences
I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
3,906The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
20,142The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
33,683What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
66,544Bail
I want to change the conditions of my detention release. What can I do?
3,101What is bail?
33,293What are bail conditions?
42,172Do police have to release me after arresting me?
19,134How will the court decide if I get bail?
34,891How should I prepare for my bail hearing?
9,567Can I have another bail hearing if I lose my first one?
14,574Do I have to deposit cash to get bail?
10,059What happens if I do not follow my bail conditions?
85,081My bail says no contact with someone. What do I do if they call me?
61,383How do I change my bail or police undertaking?
32,908What are a surety’s rights and responsibilities?
55,777What if a person doesn’t want to be my surety anymore?
34,451Mental health court and drug treatment court
How do I get into and complete mental health diversion?
5,227I have a mental health issue and I’ve been charged with a crime. What are my options?
4,278What does “fit to stand trial” mean?
3,866What does “not criminally responsible” mean?
4,301What is Drug Treatment Court and how do I participate?
3,347Guilty pleas and sentencing
Can I get criminal charges against someone dropped?
4,384Is sentencing different if I’m Black?
2,815Is sentencing different if I’m Indigenous?
5,005Should I plead guilty?
10,162What does being guilty of a criminal offence mean?
10,642What is a sentencing hearing in a criminal case?
12,369What sentences might I get in my criminal case?
9,684How do I prepare for a guilty plea?
11,398Can I make a plea bargain?
10,971What is a conditional or absolute discharge?
29,985Can I serve my sentence on weekends?
10,919Can I get house arrest instead of going to jail?
22,852Can I be ordered to give a sample of my DNA?
6,404Can the court stop me from having a gun or weapon?
3,249What is the victim fine surcharge?
8,702Immigration consequences
I’m a permanent resident charged with a crime. Will I have to leave Canada?
8,550I’m a permanent resident convicted of a serious crime. What will happen?
6,440I’m not a Canadian citizen. What happens if I commit a crime in Canada?
2,597I’m not a Canadian citizen. What happens if I committed a crime outside Canada?
1,640Peace bonds
How do I apply for a peace bond?
62,916Should I sign a peace bond?
24,729Should I sign a peace bond in my criminal case?
17,132Will peace bonds appear on my criminal record?
36,983What happens if I do not follow a peace bond?
15,338Indigenous rights
What does Gladue mean?
8,068What is a Gladue or Indigenous Peoples Court?
14,161What is Indigenous Diversion?
5,159Are bail hearings different if I’m Indigenous?
3,889Is sentencing different if I’m Indigenous?
5,005Youth criminal justice
I’m under 18 and charged with a crime. What are my rights?
5,844What are my rights as an Indigenous person in youth criminal court?
4,022How are adult court and youth court different?
6,254What is diversion for youth crimes?
4,054How does sentencing work in youth criminal court?
4,045How does having a youth record affect me?
5,535Will a youth record affect my chances of getting a job?
4,442Will a youth record affect me if I want to travel outside Canada?
4,475Going to criminal court
I’m a witness at a criminal trial. What do I need to know?
3,591I have a court date at the Superior Court of Justice. Do I have to go to court in person?
1,740I have a criminal court date at the Ontario Court of Justice. Do I have to go to court in person?
2,969Can I have my criminal law trial in French?
3,072I missed my court date. What happens now?
104,216I cannot make it for my court date. What do I do?
72,541I have an emergency and cannot make it for my court date. What do I do?
79,992Which court should I choose for my trial?
3,768Can I transfer my case to another court?
25,014How can I get my criminal charges dropped?
60,007Should I sign a peace bond in my criminal case?
17,132What is diversion?
37,920What happens on my first court date for a criminal offence?
40,666What documents does the Crown have to give me?
19,397What is a preliminary inquiry?
11,417What is a Crown pre-trial?
25,643What is a judicial pre-trial?
46,407I do not speak English or French. What are my rights?
6,712Police record checks and record suspensions
How do I get a pardon for a cannabis conviction?
1,899How do I get a pardon or a record suspension?
2,962Will a youth record affect me if I want to travel outside Canada?
4,475Will a youth record affect my chances of getting a job?
4,442How does having a youth record affect me?
5,535Will peace bonds appear on my criminal record?
36,983What’s included in a police record check?
67,482How do I get my fingerprint records destroyed?
50,793Getting legal help in criminal law
How do I get a pardon for a cannabis conviction?
1,899How do I get a pardon or a record suspension?
2,962Where can I get a lawyer or paralegal for my criminal case?
7,224I cannot afford a criminal law lawyer. Where can I get free legal help?
11,056How do I apply for a legal aid certificate?
29,787How do I prepare for my meeting with a lawyer or paralegal?
7,811How do I complain about my lawyer’s bill?
21,639How do I complain to the Law Society of Ontario about a lawyer or paralegal?
34,780