Someone who is charged with a criminal offence has the right to a fair trial and a right to counsel. Accused persons need legal advice, including advice about release from custody, the criminal trial, and sentencing.
Criminal Law – Rights of accused
Resources: Rights of accused
This guide to the youth court process is for young people living in Toronto charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). It describes the rights of young people who have been detained or arrested by police, what may happen leading up to the...
Available in:
EnglishThere are legal consequences of possessing and distributing marijuana. This Justice for Children and Youth blog post gives a description of possible charges and examples of punishable activity, as well as information on your...
Available in:
EnglishThis webinar in the Family Law Education for Women (FLEW) series looks at the high and increasing rate of Aboriginal women in prison, some root causes, and best practices for supporting Aboriginal women involved in the criminal law process. Hosted by...
Available in:
EnglishLawFacts.ca is a website designed by Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) to help people find information about criminal law processes. The site includes a glossary of terms, forms and checklists, and legal information in the following topic areas:
- ...
Available in:
English, French (français)This is a series of five info sheets on the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure in Canada.
1. Criminalization of HIV non-disclosure: current Canadian law
2. Prosecutions under the Criminal Code
3. Does criminalizing HIV non-...
Available in:
English, French (français)Under Canadian law, people living with HIV may be guilty of a crime for not disclosing their HIV-positive status before engaging in certain activities. This document has information about the current state of Canadian criminal law regarding HIV non-...
Available in:
English, French (français)This web site has information in question and answer form on topics such as finding a lawyer, tickets and fines, lawsuits and disputes, family and criminal law, human rights, and wills and estates. There is a toll-free number people can call to get...
Available in:
English, French (français)People with mental illness come into conflict with the law in disproportionate numbers. If they are not Canadian citizens, this can put them at risk of being removed from Canada. This booklet is a resource for front-line workers...
Available in:
English
Produced In:
2011
Format:
Booklet/PDFWhile this guide covers specific legal issues that came up during the 2010 G20 Summit in Toronto, the information in it is relevant to anyone in Ontario whose rights may have been violated by police. It includes information on how to hold police...
Available in:
EnglishA blog post from Justice for Children and Youth looks at the legal consequences a group of 14-year-olds face when they decide to sneak into a factory late at night.
Available in:
EnglishThis section of the Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto web site describes Gladue Court, a court for sentencing and bail hearings which recognizes the unique circumstances of Aboriginal accused and Aboriginal offenders. This court is available to all...
Available in:
EnglishThis guide looks at the criminal justice system through questions that crime victims raised based on their experiences. It describes what happens when someone becomes a victim of crime, police procedures, trial, decision, sentencing, appeals, the...
Available in:
EnglishThis booklet and accompanying poster are about the right of Aboriginal peoples, as a result of a case called Gladue, to have a judge take their background into account when setting bail or deciding on a sentence. The booklet explains the kind of...
Available in:
English
Produced In:
2009
Format:
Booklet/PDFThis poster, like the booklet with the same title, is about the right of Aboriginal peoples, as a result of a case called Gladue, to have a judge take their background into account when setting bail or deciding on a sentence. It includes a list of...
Available in:
English
Produced In:
2009
Format:
PosterThis resource explains what a disposition order is, what the Ontario Review Board (ORB) does, what a "not criminally responsible" (NCR) verdict means, and what it means to be found unfit to stand trial.
Available in:
EnglishThis online glossary has plain-language definitions of over 5,000 legal terms in seven languages. It contains criminal law terms, court-related terms, and street language heard in court describing drugs and arms. The glossary is for people involved in...
Available in:
English, Chinese (中文), Farsi/Persian (پارسی ), Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), Russian (русский ), Spanish (español), Vietnamese (tiếng Việt)This resource offers basic information about what being charged with a crime in Canada can mean for a person's immigration status. It explains what a removal order does and what can be done to protect one's status and stay in Canada.
Available in:
English, French (français), Arabic (عربي ), Chinese (中文), Somali (Afsoomaali), Spanish (español), Tamil (தமிழ்), Urdu (اردو)
Produced In:
2008
Format:
Booklet/PDFThis fact sheet contains plain-language definitions of terms commonly used in criminal law. It explains terms such as absolute discharge, beyond a reasonable doubt, conditional discharge, duty counsel, examination in chief, hybrid offense, indictable...
Available in:
EnglishBail is a term that refers to the release of an accused person from custody while waiting for a criminal trial. This article explains what happens at a bail hearing, and what the courts consider in deciding whether or not to grant bail. It also...
Available in:
EnglishThis section of the Canadian Superior Court Judges Association web site includes information about the rule of law, the role of the courts, criminal and civil law, the source of our law, the structure of the courts, and courts and the constitution.
Available in:
English, French (français)
