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Crime & Victims

Find information on criminal law and victim services published by non-profit organizations, the government, and legal professionals in BC. Each topic includes online guides and tools selected by our librarians.

Legal help in BC

Brydges Line

Legal Aid BC
A province-wide toll-free telephone service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide criminal law advice. You can call to speak to a lawyer if you’re arrested, detained, or under active investigation by the police or another law enforcement agency for a criminal offence, but not yet charged, and in need of emergency legal services.

Provincial Court criminal duty counsel

Legal Aid BC
Lawyers who can help you in Provincial Court if you’re charged with a crime, and can’t get a legal aid lawyer, or haven’t yet applied for legal aid. They can give you advice about the charges, court procedures, and your legal rights, and can represent you at a bail hearing. If there’s time, duty counsel can help with a guilty plea.

VictimLinkBC

Government of British Columbia
Provides information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence, including victims of human trafficking exploited for labour or sexual services. It’s a toll-free, confidential, multilingual service available across BC and the Yukon 24 hours a day, seven days a week.