3. Learn about your options for bail
Question & Answer
What are my rights as an indigenous person in youth criminal court?Telling the court about your Indigenous identity may allow you to get help from an Indigenous court worker if they are available at the court. The Indigenous court worker can help you to make a release plan.
If there is no Indigenous court worker, someone from an Indigenous organization or Bail Program might also be able meet with you in to help you make a release plan.
The purpose of the release plan is to outline the community resources that are available to you while you’re on waiting for your , and to give details about where you will be living. For example, the plan might suggest Indigenous supports for mental health, trauma, addictions, or homelessness. It might also include suggestions for participation in cultural activities.
Your lawyer or can use your release plan to negotiate with the Crown. With a good release plan, the Crown might agree to release you without a .
If the Crown won’t agree to your release, you will have a bail hearing instead. Your lawyer or duty counsel can present your release plan at your bail to try to convince the court to release you.
Ask your lawyer or duty counsel for a referral to the Indigenous court worker.
