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?
46,444Can the police stop me and ask for my ID?
119,750Do I have to answer police questions if I’m driving or biking?
13,812What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
67,004The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
34,056The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
20,485What are the laws about cannabis and driving?
18,739I was arrested with no warrant. What should I do?
76,088When can the police search me?
45,035What are my rights if the police have a search warrant?
68,280When can the police search my home or business?
9,035Police want to enter my home or business. What are my rights?
54,843Police took my things during a search. Can I get them back?
50,400I’m going to a protest. What do I need to know?
11,117Do I have to give a bodily sample to the police?
31,963How do I apply for a police record check?
67,872How do I make a complaint about the police?
28,600Can I sue the police for violating my rights?
84,982Rights of an arrested person
I was arrested with no warrant. What should I do?
76,088What are my rights if I’m detained or arrested?
111,104Do I have to answer police questions when I’m detained or arrested?
30,245Do I have a right to a lawyer if I’m arrested?
19,686What if the police arrest me and do not let me leave?
10,807Can the police let me go without a bail hearing?
12,490What do I do if there’s an arrest warrant for me?
81,212Do I have to go for fingerprinting?
53,841How do I get my fingerprint records destroyed?
51,168How do I make a complaint about the police?
28,600Can I sue the police for violating my rights?
84,982Types of Offences
What is a private prosecution and how do I apply for one?
2,938I’ve been charged with Failure to Attend, Failure to Appear, or Failure to Comply with Undertaking. What do I need to know?
4,735I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
4,264I’ve been charged with Assault. What do I need to know?
6,376I’ve been charged with Criminal Harassment. What do I need to know?
6,161I’ve been charged with Drug Trafficking. What do I need to know?
3,599I’ve been charged with Drug Possession. What do I need to know?
3,184I’ve been charged with Failure to Comply with my bail. What do I need to know?
2,977I’ve been charged with Breach of Probation. What do I need to know?
4,629I’ve been charged with Mischief Under $5,000. What do I need to know?
5,580I’ve been charged with Uttering Threats. What do I need to know?
4,925I’ve been charged with Theft Under $5,000. What do I need to know?
4,525I’ve been charged with Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
4,729I’ve been charged with Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
5,691Alcohol and drug offences
What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
67,004I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
4,264The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
20,485The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
34,056I’ve been charged with Drug Trafficking. What do I need to know?
3,599I’ve been charged with Drug Possession. What do I need to know?
3,184What do the new laws on cannabis mean?
9,562What are the laws about cannabis and driving?
18,739What are the rules about medicinal cannabis?
2,763Assault and criminal harassment
I’ve been charged with Assault. What do I need to know?
6,376I’ve been charged with Criminal Harassment. What do I need to know?
6,161I’ve been charged with Uttering Threats. What do I need to know?
4,925Firearms
I’ve been charged with Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
4,729I’ve been charged with Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
5,691Motor vehicle offences
I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
4,264The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
20,485The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
34,056What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
67,004Bail
I want to change the conditions of my detention release. What can I do?
3,430What is bail?
33,670What are bail conditions?
42,531Do police have to release me after arresting me?
19,500How will the court decide if I get bail?
35,252How do I get bail?
9,951Can I have another bail hearing if I lose my first one?
14,884Do I have to deposit cash to get bail?
10,412What happens if I do not follow my bail conditions?
85,393My bail says no contact with someone. What do I do if they call me?
61,858How do I change my bail or police undertaking?
33,363What are a surety’s rights and responsibilities?
56,697What if a person doesn’t want to be my surety anymore?
35,070Mental health court and drug treatment court
How do I get into and complete mental health diversion?
5,673I have a mental health issue and I’ve been charged with a crime. What are my options?
4,693What does “fit to stand trial” mean?
4,202What does “not criminally responsible” mean?
4,680What is Drug Treatment Court and how do I participate?
3,680Guilty pleas and sentencing
Can I get criminal charges against someone dropped?
4,996Is sentencing different if I’m Black?
3,106Is sentencing different if I’m Indigenous?
5,323Should I plead guilty?
10,462What does being guilty of a criminal offence mean?
10,943What is a sentencing hearing in a criminal case?
12,702What sentences might I get in my criminal case?
10,228How do I prepare for a guilty plea?
11,660Can I make a plea bargain?
11,287What is a conditional or absolute discharge?
30,289Can I serve my sentence on weekends?
11,264Can I get house arrest instead of going to jail?
23,197Can I be ordered to give a sample of my DNA?
6,644Can the court stop me from having a gun or weapon?
3,476What is the victim fine surcharge?
9,090Immigration consequences
I’m a permanent resident charged with a crime. Will I have to leave Canada?
8,851I’m a permanent resident convicted of a serious crime. What will happen?
6,778I’m not a Canadian citizen. What happens if I commit a crime in Canada?
2,939I’m not a Canadian citizen. What happens if I committed a crime outside Canada?
1,931Peace bonds
How do I apply for a peace bond?
63,892Should I sign a peace bond?
25,124Should I sign a peace bond in my criminal case?
17,495Will peace bonds appear on my criminal record?
37,407What happens if I do not follow a peace bond?
15,664Indigenous rights
What does Gladue mean?
8,398What is a Gladue or Indigenous Peoples Court?
14,507What is Indigenous Diversion?
5,439Are bail hearings different if I’m Indigenous?
4,137Is sentencing different if I’m Indigenous?
5,323Youth criminal justice
I’m under 18 and charged with a crime. What are my rights?
6,173What are my rights as an Indigenous person in youth criminal court?
4,325How are adult court and youth court different?
6,640What is diversion for youth crimes?
4,337How does sentencing work in youth criminal court?
4,336How does having a youth record affect me?
5,840Will a youth record affect my chances of getting a job?
4,793Will a youth record affect me if I want to travel outside Canada?
4,898Going to criminal court
I’m a witness at a criminal trial. What do I need to know?
4,078I have a court date at the Superior Court of Justice. Do I have to go to court in person?
2,022I have a criminal court date at the Ontario Court of Justice. Do I have to go to court in person?
3,290Can I have my criminal law trial in French?
3,358I missed my court date. What happens now?
104,767I cannot make it for my court date. What do I do?
72,925I have an emergency and cannot make it for my court date. What do I do?
80,366Which court should I choose for my trial?
4,049Can I transfer my case to another court?
25,348How can I get my criminal charges dropped?
60,588Should I sign a peace bond in my criminal case?
17,495What is diversion?
38,370What happens on my first court date for a criminal offence?
41,107What documents does the Crown have to give me?
19,758What is a preliminary inquiry?
11,777What is a Crown pre-trial?
26,238What is a judicial pre-trial?
47,063I do not speak English or French. What are my rights?
6,964Police record checks and record suspensions
What is included in a police record check?
234How do I get a pardon for a cannabis conviction?
2,175How do I get a pardon or a record suspension?
3,324Will a youth record affect me if I want to travel outside Canada?
4,898Will a youth record affect my chances of getting a job?
4,793How does having a youth record affect me?
5,840Will peace bonds appear on my criminal record?
37,407How do I apply for a police record check?
67,872How do I get my fingerprint records destroyed?
51,168Getting legal help in criminal law
How do I get a pardon for a cannabis conviction?
2,175How do I get a pardon or a record suspension?
3,324Where can I get a lawyer or paralegal for my criminal case?
7,560I cannot afford a criminal law lawyer. Where can I get free legal help?
11,373How do I apply for a legal aid certificate?
30,273How do I prepare for my meeting with a lawyer or paralegal?
8,212How do I complain about my lawyer’s bill?
22,141How do I complain to the Law Society of Ontario about a lawyer or paralegal?
35,212