Canadian Criminal Records & Everyday Criminal Law
Record suspensions, expungement, discharges, peace bonds, self-defence, citizen's arrest, record checks, and jury duty across Canada, explained plainly.
11 min read
Canada Criminal Law
17 articles
Citizen's Arrest in Canada: Criminal Code Section 494
Section 494 of the Criminal Code lets a private person arrest without a warrant in narrow situations. Learn the limits and why it is risky before acting.
5 min read
Criminal Background Checks and Employment in Canada
Canadian employers need consent for a criminal record check, and the tier must match the role. See what human rights law protects and what applicants should disclose.
8 min read
Criminal Record Checks in Canada: The Three Tiers
Canada has three tiers of criminal record check: name-based CPIC, judicial matters, and vulnerable sector. See what each reveals and who can require one.
7 min read
Domestic Violence Laws in Canada: Charges and Protection
There is no separate domestic violence offence in Canada. Learn how charges, peace bonds, protection orders, and the Crown's role in prosecution work.
9 min read
Expungement vs Record Suspension in Canada
Expungement destroys a Canadian record but only for a narrow list of unjust convictions. Most people searching expungement actually need a record suspension.
8 min read
Is There a Felony in Canada? Indictable, Summary, and Hybrid Offences Explained
Canada's Criminal Code has no felony or misdemeanor categories. Offences are indictable, summary conviction, or hybrid. Here is how the classification, and the US border angle, actually works.
9 min read
Is There a Statute of Limitations in Canada? Criminal and Civil Rules Explained
Canada has no general statute of limitations for indictable crimes. Summary offences have a 12-month deadline, and civil lawsuit deadlines vary by province.
12 min read
Jury Duty in Canada: Eligibility, Pay, and Selection Rules
Jury duty in Canada is set by provincial law. See how selection works, who is disqualified, what changed in 2019, and what jurors are paid by province.
9 min read
Knife and Weapons Laws in Canada: What Is Actually Illegal
Canada has no blade-length limit on knives. What actually makes a knife illegal is its design, plus carrying it for a dangerous purpose or concealed.
6 min read
Miranda Rights in Canada: What the Charter Actually Guarantees
Canada has no Miranda warning. Charter section 10 guarantees the right to know why you were arrested and to retain counsel without delay. Here is how it actually works.
11 min read
Ontario Police Record Checks: The PRCRA Schedule and Consent Rules in Detail
Ontario's PRCRA Schedule is an exhaustive disclosure whitelist, with a strict VSC-only non-conviction test, a 30-day reconsideration right, and two-stage written consent.
14 min read
Peace Bonds in Canada: Section 810 Explained
A peace bond under Criminal Code s 810 is not a conviction. See how it works, what conditions a judge can order, and how it differs from a restraining order.
8 min read
Record Suspension (Pardon) in Canada: Cost & Eligibility
A Canadian record suspension now costs $50, cut from $657.77 in 2022. Learn eligibility waits, what it does and doesn't erase, and why US entry can still be refused.
7 min read
Self-Defence Laws in Canada: Sections 34 and 35 Explained
Canada has no stand your ground or castle doctrine. Self-defence turns on Criminal Code s 34, defence of property on s 35. Here is the current test.
6 min read
Travelling With a Criminal Record from Canada
A Canadian record suspension does not bind US border officials. What to know about US entry waivers, the petty offence exception, and other countries.
7 min read
Vulnerable Sector Checks in Canada: How the Record-Suspension Flag Works
A vulnerable sector check can flag a record-suspended sexual offence under Criminal Records Act s.6.3. How the flag works, who can require one, and why online brokers cannot issue one.
10 min read