NCJ Number
212501
Date Published
2005
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This booklet guides crime victims and witnesses through the Canadian criminal justice system.
Abstract
The introduction discusses the powers of the Federal and provincial governments in relation to criminal law issues and briefly outlines the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA), which contains provisions on the information crime victims may have access to regarding federally incarcerated offenders. Aspects on crime investigation, criminal charges, arrest, release, and bail hearings are reviewed. Protections extended to crime victims are outlined at their various points in the criminal justice system, ranging from a judge’s power to exclude all members of the public from the court proceedings to special protections for child witnesses. Special issues involving young offenders and mentally disordered defendants are discussed and descriptions are offered of the duties and authorities of the Crown Prosecutor, the defense lawyer, and witnesses. The levels of the court system are delineated and the categories of criminal offenses under Canadian law are reviewed. The guide prepares witnesses and victims for each step involved with going to trial, from the preliminary inquiry to sentencing. The appeals and correctional processes are presented before the guide closes with a summary of the Canadian Statement of Basic Principles of Justice For Victims of Crime. Resources, glossary