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?
46,431Can the police stop me and ask for my ID?
119,732Do I have to answer police questions if I’m driving or biking?
13,804What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
66,989The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
34,048The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
20,476What are the laws about cannabis and driving?
18,734I was arrested with no warrant. What should I do?
76,079When can the police search me?
45,025What are my rights if the police have a search warrant?
68,270When can the police search my home or business?
9,029Police want to enter my home or business. What are my rights?
54,829Police took my things during a search. Can I get them back?
50,384I’m going to a protest. What do I need to know?
11,094Do I have to give a bodily sample to the police?
31,954How do I apply for a police record check?
67,861How do I make a complaint about the police?
28,592Can I sue the police for violating my rights?
84,951Rights of an arrested person
I was arrested with no warrant. What should I do?
76,079What are my rights if I’m detained or arrested?
111,091Do I have to answer police questions when I’m detained or arrested?
30,234Do I have a right to a lawyer if I’m arrested?
19,677What if the police arrest me and do not let me leave?
10,797Can the police let me go without a bail hearing?
12,484What do I do if there’s an arrest warrant for me?
81,197Do I have to go for fingerprinting?
53,828How do I get my fingerprint records destroyed?
51,159How do I make a complaint about the police?
28,592Can I sue the police for violating my rights?
84,951Types of Offences
What is a private prosecution and how do I apply for one?
2,930I’ve been charged with Failure to Attend, Failure to Appear, or Failure to Comply with Undertaking. What do I need to know?
4,723I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
4,252I’ve been charged with Assault. What do I need to know?
6,362I’ve been charged with Criminal Harassment. What do I need to know?
6,148I’ve been charged with Drug Trafficking. What do I need to know?
3,588I’ve been charged with Drug Possession. What do I need to know?
3,174I’ve been charged with Failure to Comply with my bail. What do I need to know?
2,967I’ve been charged with Breach of Probation. What do I need to know?
4,625I’ve been charged with Mischief Under $5,000. What do I need to know?
5,568I’ve been charged with Uttering Threats. What do I need to know?
4,915I’ve been charged with Theft Under $5,000. What do I need to know?
4,518I’ve been charged with Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
4,719I’ve been charged with Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
5,679Alcohol and drug offences
What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
66,989I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
4,252The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
20,476The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
34,048I’ve been charged with Drug Trafficking. What do I need to know?
3,588I’ve been charged with Drug Possession. What do I need to know?
3,174What do the new laws on cannabis mean?
9,555What are the laws about cannabis and driving?
18,734What are the rules about medicinal cannabis?
2,756Assault and criminal harassment
I’ve been charged with Assault. What do I need to know?
6,362I’ve been charged with Criminal Harassment. What do I need to know?
6,148I’ve been charged with Uttering Threats. What do I need to know?
4,915Firearms
I’ve been charged with Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
4,719I’ve been charged with Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
5,679Motor vehicle offences
I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
4,252The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
20,476The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
34,048What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
66,989Bail
I want to change the conditions of my detention release. What can I do?
3,419What is bail?
33,658What are bail conditions?
42,523Do police have to release me after arresting me?
19,486How will the court decide if I get bail?
35,240How do I get bail?
9,939Can I have another bail hearing if I lose my first one?
14,875Do I have to deposit cash to get bail?
10,403What happens if I do not follow my bail conditions?
85,382My bail says no contact with someone. What do I do if they call me?
61,841How do I change my bail or police undertaking?
33,350What are a surety’s rights and responsibilities?
56,665What if a person doesn’t want to be my surety anymore?
35,044Mental health court and drug treatment court
How do I get into and complete mental health diversion?
5,662I have a mental health issue and I’ve been charged with a crime. What are my options?
4,680What does “fit to stand trial” mean?
4,193What does “not criminally responsible” mean?
4,671What is Drug Treatment Court and how do I participate?
3,671Guilty pleas and sentencing
Can I get criminal charges against someone dropped?
4,966Is sentencing different if I’m Black?
3,100Is sentencing different if I’m Indigenous?
5,311Should I plead guilty?
10,451What does being guilty of a criminal offence mean?
10,933What is a sentencing hearing in a criminal case?
12,689What sentences might I get in my criminal case?
10,208How do I prepare for a guilty plea?
11,649Can I make a plea bargain?
11,276What is a conditional or absolute discharge?
30,277Can I serve my sentence on weekends?
11,249Can I get house arrest instead of going to jail?
23,187Can I be ordered to give a sample of my DNA?
6,637Can the court stop me from having a gun or weapon?
3,470What is the victim fine surcharge?
9,080Immigration consequences
I’m a permanent resident charged with a crime. Will I have to leave Canada?
8,841I’m a permanent resident convicted of a serious crime. What will happen?
6,768I’m not a Canadian citizen. What happens if I commit a crime in Canada?
2,928I’m not a Canadian citizen. What happens if I committed a crime outside Canada?
1,922Peace bonds
How do I apply for a peace bond?
63,860Should I sign a peace bond?
25,109Should I sign a peace bond in my criminal case?
17,485Will peace bonds appear on my criminal record?
37,395What happens if I do not follow a peace bond?
15,650Indigenous rights
What does Gladue mean?
8,389What is a Gladue or Indigenous Peoples Court?
14,495What is Indigenous Diversion?
5,433Are bail hearings different if I’m Indigenous?
4,131Is sentencing different if I’m Indigenous?
5,311Youth criminal justice
I’m under 18 and charged with a crime. What are my rights?
6,164What are my rights as an Indigenous person in youth criminal court?
4,319How are adult court and youth court different?
6,626What is diversion for youth crimes?
4,330How does sentencing work in youth criminal court?
4,326How does having a youth record affect me?
5,830Will a youth record affect my chances of getting a job?
4,783Will a youth record affect me if I want to travel outside Canada?
4,884Going to criminal court
I’m a witness at a criminal trial. What do I need to know?
4,061I have a court date at the Superior Court of Justice. Do I have to go to court in person?
2,012I have a criminal court date at the Ontario Court of Justice. Do I have to go to court in person?
3,281Can I have my criminal law trial in French?
3,347I missed my court date. What happens now?
104,752I cannot make it for my court date. What do I do?
72,916I have an emergency and cannot make it for my court date. What do I do?
80,352Which court should I choose for my trial?
4,037Can I transfer my case to another court?
25,334How can I get my criminal charges dropped?
60,568Should I sign a peace bond in my criminal case?
17,485What is diversion?
38,357What happens on my first court date for a criminal offence?
41,092What documents does the Crown have to give me?
19,745What is a preliminary inquiry?
11,750What is a Crown pre-trial?
26,208What is a judicial pre-trial?
47,036I do not speak English or French. What are my rights?
6,955Police record checks and record suspensions
What is included in a police record check?
225How do I get a pardon for a cannabis conviction?
2,169How do I get a pardon or a record suspension?
3,316Will a youth record affect me if I want to travel outside Canada?
4,884Will a youth record affect my chances of getting a job?
4,783How does having a youth record affect me?
5,830Will peace bonds appear on my criminal record?
37,395How do I apply for a police record check?
67,861How do I get my fingerprint records destroyed?
51,159Getting legal help in criminal law
How do I get a pardon for a cannabis conviction?
2,169How do I get a pardon or a record suspension?
3,316Where can I get a lawyer or paralegal for my criminal case?
7,547I cannot afford a criminal law lawyer. Where can I get free legal help?
11,363How do I apply for a legal aid certificate?
30,258How do I prepare for my meeting with a lawyer or paralegal?
8,198How do I complain about my lawyer’s bill?
22,122How do I complain to the Law Society of Ontario about a lawyer or paralegal?
35,198