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Criminal Court Overview

The Ontario Court of Justice’s website provides an overview of criminal court including:

Going to criminal court
How to attend court
Practice directions, notices, and guidelines
Criminal court forms

It also has information about daily court lists, court cases online, and how to find a court and local contacts.

Criminal court: Step-by-step

The Ontario Court of Justice has created a step-by-step guide on a typical criminal case to help people understand each step in criminal court proceedings.

Probono Inmate Appeal Program

Formerly known as the Ontario Inmate Appeal Duty Counsel Program, the Probono Inmate Appeal Program helps self-represented inmates to appeal their conviction or sentence to the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

Record suspension checklist

This tool from Steps to Justice is a checklist on what you need to apply for a record suspension.

Supporting loved ones: A guide to navigating the criminal court and correctional system in Ontario

The John Howard Society of Ontario has produced this resource for family and friends of people who have been arrested, incarcerated, or recently released. The guide includes:

answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs)
information about visiting a person who is incarcerated in Ontario
community resources

What are my options if the police discriminate against me?

This tool from Steps to Justice helps you compare your legal options if a police officer has discriminated against you.

You speak French – know your rights

This printable resource available in French and English helps people understand their rights to court proceedings and legal services in French, as well as how to find a lawyer or paralegal who speaks French.

Booklets for People in Federal Prisons

These booklets, produced by Prisoners’ Legal Services in British Columbia, provide information to people in federal institutions on prisoners’ rights and other relevant topics, including:

Conditional release, Correcting your CSC file, Section 810 recognizances
Family: Child support, Family: Divorce
Grievances, Human rights complaints, Disciplinary process
Indigenous spiritual accommodation, Indigenous legal rights
Hepatitis C,

Enabling Justice: Adult Toolkit

This resource from the Disability Justice Network Ontario is for people 18+ who are navigating the criminal legal system, particularly people who are racialized, living with a disability, or who are autistic or neurodivergent. It includes information on racism and disability and the criminal legal system, know your rights, what to expect,

Enabling Justice: Printable Toolkit for Prisoners

This printable plain-language toolkit is intended for people who are incarcerated, with additional content for racialized and/or disabled prisoners. It has information on the legal process, legal options, as well as resources for prisoners and their support systems.