Criminal law – More legal information

Trouble finding work due to a criminal record

A criminal record shows if you have been convicted of a crime.  You can ask to remove a conviction from your record under certain circumstances. This is called a record suspension. Read Criminal Records and Your Employment for information.

Cannabis use in Canada

Find information on what the law is regarding cannabis use in Canada and specifically in Ontario.

Tickets and Fines

Find information about what to do when you’ve received a ticket or fine on the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Justice Ontario website.

Other sources of legal information

• Steps to Justice – resources and answers to common questions,  such as:
  • How to be a witness in a criminal trial
  • What are my rights if I’m detained or arrested?
  • Questions regarding police stops and searches
  • Types of Criminal Offences (chart)
• Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)
• CLEO Connect

Children and youth

Justice for Children and Youth is a legal clinic that offers select legal representation to low-income children and youth in Toronto and vicinity. They have many publications, pamphlets and newsletters, including ones on youth criminal justice.

See their legal wiki page on cannabis laws in Ontario.

CourtPrep.ca is a site for youth preparing for court.

Steps to Justice – Youth Criminal Justice – step-by-step information about legal problems. Reliable, practical, and easy to understand.

Ministry of Attorney General

The Ministry’s criminal law page links to information such as what happens in criminal court if you are an accused person or if you are a witness, and more.

Older Adults

The Provincial Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee (HSJCC) has developed a guidebook to help caregivers and service providers of older adults and adults with age-related conditions navigate the justice system.

Ontario Court of Justice

The Ontario Court of Justice has guides for people who are representing themselves at court:

• Ontario Court of Justice
• Guide for Defendants in Provincial Offences Cases
• Guide to Appeals in Provincial Offences Cases
• Criminal Court Rules and Forms

Also, see this interactive Ontario Court of Justice criminal law courtroom illustration from Steps to Justice which explains who may be present in a criminal court and what they do. 

See their COVID-19 update page.