Glossary

A B C D E F H I J L M N O P R S T U W

Case law

Charge

Code of Civil Procedure

Commissioner for oaths

Conditional release

Contractual obligation

Crime

Crown prosecutor/Crown attorney

Custody

Definition

Crime

A crime occurs when someone breaks the law in a serious way. Murder, assault and hostage-taking are some examples. Most crimes are listed in a law called the Criminal Code.

There are special procedures for bringing criminal cases to court.

Also, for certain types of crimes, the lawyer bringing the case against the accused has the choice of handling the case either as a crime or as a less serious “summary offence”. This is the case with drunk driving, for example.