All questions by topic
Police stops and searches
Can police just approach me and ask me questions?
40,828Can the police stop me and ask for my ID?
111,230Do I have to answer police questions if I’m driving or biking?
9,767What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
60,882The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
28,515The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
16,698What are the laws about cannabis and driving?
15,596I was arrested with no warrant. What should I do?
71,028When can the police search me?
40,003What are my rights if the police have a search warrant?
62,744When can the police search my home or business?
5,882Police want to enter my home or business. What are my rights?
50,393Can police take things during a search that don’t belong to me?
45,254I’m going to a protest. What do I need to know?
4,100Do I have to give a bodily sample to the police?
27,454What’s included in a police record check?
62,453How do I make a complaint about the police?
23,007Can I sue the police for violating my rights?
76,259Rights of an arrested person
Test criminal law
127I was arrested with no warrant. What should I do?
71,028What are my rights if I’m detained or arrested?
103,559Do I have to answer police questions when I’m detained or arrested?
25,777Do I have a right to a lawyer if I’m arrested?
15,816What if the police arrest me and don’t let me leave?
7,334Can the police let me go without a bail hearing?
9,041What do I do if there’s an arrest warrant for me?
75,462Do I have to go for fingerprinting?
48,311How do I get my fingerprint records destroyed?
45,834How do I make a complaint about the police?
23,007Can I sue the police for violating my rights?
76,259Types of Offences
I’ve been charged with Failure to Attend, Failure to Appear, or Failure to Comply with Undertaking. What do I need to know?
168I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
449I’ve been charged with Assault. What do I need to know?
345I’ve been charged with Criminal Harassment. What do I need to know?
451I’ve been charged with Drug Trafficking. What do I need to know?
135I’ve been charged with Drug Possession. What do I need to know?
139I’ve been charged with Failure to Comply with my bail. What do I need to know?
132I’ve been charged with Breach of Probation. What do I need to know?
101I’ve been charged with Mischief Under $5,000. What do I need to know?
166I’ve been charged with Uttering Threats. What do I need to know?
147I’ve been charged with Theft Under $5,000. What do I need to know?
285I’ve been charged with Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
125I’ve been charged with Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
148Alcohol and drug offences
What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
60,882I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
449The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
16,698The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
28,515I’ve been charged with Drug Trafficking. What do I need to know?
135I’ve been charged with Drug Possession. What do I need to know?
139What do the new laws on cannabis mean?
7,505What are the laws about cannabis and driving?
15,596What are the rules about medicinal cannabis?
1,041Motor vehicle offences
I’ve been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do I need to know?
449The police say I’ve been doing drugs and driving. What are my rights?
16,698The police say I’ve been drinking and driving. What are my rights?
28,515What are my rights if I get stopped while driving?
60,882Assault and criminal harassment
I’ve been charged with Assault. What do I need to know?
345I’ve been charged with Criminal Harassment. What do I need to know?
451I’ve been charged with Uttering Threats. What do I need to know?
147Firearms
I’ve been charged with Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
125I’ve been charged with Careless Use or Storage of a Firearm. What do I need to know?
148Bail
What is bail?
29,162What are bail conditions?
37,526Do police have to release me after arresting me?
14,577How will the court decide if I get bail?
29,961How should I prepare for my bail hearing?
5,709Can I have another bail hearing if I lose my first one?
10,599Do I have to deposit cash to get bail?
6,354What happens if I don’t follow my bail conditions?
80,398My bail says no contact with someone. What do I do if they call me?
55,170How do I change my bail or police undertaking?
27,478What are a surety’s rights and responsibilities?
47,448What if a person doesn’t want to be my surety anymore?
28,124Guilty pleas and sentencing
Should I plead guilty?
6,441What does being guilty of a criminal offence mean?
6,856What is a sentencing hearing in a criminal case?
7,605What sentences might I get in my criminal case?
4,532How do I prepare for a guilty plea?
7,944Can I make a plea bargain?
7,579What is a conditional or absolute discharge?
25,302Can I serve my sentence on weekends?
6,843Can I get house arrest instead of going to jail?
17,757Can I be ordered to give a sample of my DNA?
3,516Can the court stop me from having a gun or weapon?
1,191What is the victim fine surcharge?
3,408Peace bonds
How do I apply for a peace bond?
52,620Should I sign a peace bond?
19,998Should I sign a peace bond in my criminal case?
13,167Will peace bonds appear on my criminal record?
31,355What happens if I don’t follow a peace bond?
11,475Youth criminal justice
I’m under 18 and charged with a crime. What are my rights?
2,256What are my rights as an indigenous person in youth criminal court?
1,375How are adult court and youth court different?
1,810What is diversion for youth crimes?
432How does sentencing work in youth criminal court?
1,344How does having a youth record affect me?
2,609Will a youth record affect my chances of getting a job?
495Will a youth record affect me if I want to travel outside Canada?
507Indigenous rights
What does Gladue mean?
3,867What is a Gladue or Indigenous Peoples Court?
9,646What is Indigenous Diversion?
2,181Are bail hearings different if I’m Indigenous?
1,477Is sentencing different if I’m Indigenous?
1,691Going to criminal court
I missed my court date. What happens now?
93,977I can’t make it for my court date. What do I do?
66,612I have an emergency and can’t make it for my court date. What do I do?
75,067Which court should I choose for my trial?
1,061Can I transfer my case to another court?
20,554How can I get my criminal charges dropped?
54,153Should I sign a peace bond in my criminal case?
13,167What is diversion?
32,106What happens on my first court date for a criminal offence?
35,159What documents does the Crown have to give me?
14,687What is a preliminary inquiry?
6,131What is a Crown pre-trial?
18,609What is a judicial pre-trial?
39,569How do I ask for my trial to be in French?
4,385I don’t speak English or French. What are my rights?
4,065Victims and witnesses
I’m a crime victim. Can I get money for expenses related to the crime?
3,011Police complaints
How do I make a complaint about the police?
23,007Can I sue the police for violating my rights?
76,259Getting legal help in criminal law
Where can I get a lawyer or paralegal for my criminal case?
3,844I can’t afford a criminal law lawyer. Where can I get free legal help?
7,085How do I apply for a legal aid certificate?
23,054How do I prepare for my meeting with a lawyer or paralegal?
3,815How do I complain about my lawyer’s bill?
15,755How do I complain about a lawyer or paralegal?
29,493