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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.

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.

Enabling Justice: Youth Toolkit

This resource from the Disability Justice Network Ontario is for youth ages 12-17 who are navigating the criminal legal system, particularly youth 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,

Going to Criminal Court

The website of the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General has information about the criminal court process and what to do if someone is the accused, witness or surety in a criminal case. This includes information on:

If you are charged with a criminal offence
Young people
If you do not have a lawyer
If you are a witness
If you are a surety
Criminal appeals
If you need an interpreter

HIV and the Criminal Law in Canada

This resource was created by the HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario (HALCO), HIV Legal Network, African Caribbean Council on HIV/ AIDS in Ontario (ACCHO), Africans in Partnership Against AIDS (APAA), and Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP). It provides important information about HIV and the law in Canada, with a particular focus on African,

Types of Criminal Offences

This chart from Steps to Justice explains the 3 types of criminal offences a person can be charged with in Canada: summary, hybrid, and indictable offences.

What are my rights if I’m detained or arrested? video

This video is about a person’s rights if they are arrested or detained in Ontario.

When can the police search me? video

This video is about when the police can search a person in Ontario without a warrant.