Find websites and materials written in plain language.
A general reference for self-represented litigants appearing in Canadian courts. Includes SRL’s rights and responsibilities, first steps in your criminal case, bail, building your defence, legal research, court processes, jury, sentencing, and more. Also provides a list of Canadian and BC resources.
Explains Gladue rights and factors, and how to get a Gladue report via a service from the BC First Nations Justice Council.
The police are responsible for enforcing the law. While they’re deserving of respect and assistance, they must also respect your legal rights. This booklet has important information about how you can expect the police to act, and how you can respond if you feel the police don’t act properly.
Answers questions such as what is an injunction, what is contempt of court, and what are your rights when you go to court on this charge.
This site gives an overview of the adult criminal court process but does not cover every situation. The information relates to criminal trials in BC Supreme Courts and Provincial Courts. Includes rights of the accused, investigation and charges, bail hearing, disclosure, and pleading guilty.
This site has general information to help people with criminal matters in the BC Supreme Court. The guidebooks provide information you need to know before trial, about trial and sentencing, and jury duty. You can also find links to court forms.
This fact sheet explains what a judge considers when sentencing in criminal court; what types of sentences can be given; and what a Pre-Sentence Report, Victim Impact Statement, and sentencing circle are.
Resources for criminal cases include links for getting a lawyer or legal advice, information on criminal law, preparing for a criminal trial, links to pick lists (standardized wording for bail and sentence orders), links to the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and information for victims of crime.
Pick lists are lists of standardized terms for court orders. They are stored in courtroom computers so a court clerk can use them to quickly and accurately capture the order a judge makes. When a judge decides to change the standard wording, a court clerk can edit the term accordingly.
This section of BC Provincial Court website has information and guides you can use to deal with criminal matters. Includes info on basic criminal procedure, a criminal case flowchart, and sentencing.
