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Difference between revisions of "Complaints Against the RCMP"

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m (Drew Jackson moved page Complaints Against the RCMP (Script 220) to Complaints Against the RCMP (No. 220): align with new Dial-A-Law website)
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{{Dial-A-Law Blurb}}
{{REVIEWEDPLS | reviewer = [https://www.crcc-ccetp.gc.ca/ Evelyn Sarault and Denyse Leach], Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP|date= August 2017}} {{Dial-A-Law TOC|expanded = crime}}
 
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If you are concerned about an RCMP officer’s conduct, you have options, from filing a complaint to suing. Learn how the options differ, and the steps in filing a complaint.
If you are concerned about an RCMP officer’s conduct, you have options, from filing a complaint to suing. Learn how the options differ, and the steps in filing a complaint.


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Most of rural BC and many municipalities are policed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (the RCMP). A full list of communities in BC policed by the RCMP is available on their website at [http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/detach/en/find/BC rcmp.gc.ca].  
Most of rural BC and many municipalities are policed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (the RCMP). A full list of communities in BC policed by the RCMP is available on their website at [http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/detach/en/find/BC rcmp.gc.ca].  


Some municipalities in BC are policed by their own police force, including several in the Vancouver and Victoria areas. If you have a complaint about a local police force, see our information on [[Complaints Against Municipal Police (Script 221)|complaints against the municipal police (no. 221)]].
Some municipalities in BC are policed by their own police force, including several in the Vancouver and Victoria areas. If you have a complaint about a local police force, see our information on [[Complaints Against the Municipal Police (No. 221)|complaints against the municipal police (no. 221)]].


===If you are concerned with an RCMP officer’s conduct===
===If you are concerned with an RCMP officer’s conduct===
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Suing the police might lead to a settlement or judgment involving the payment of money.
Suing the police might lead to a settlement or judgment involving the payment of money.


A lawsuit is filed in either Small Claims Court or the Supreme Court of BC, depending on the amount of money sought. There are rules and processes that must be followed. Lawsuits must normally be filed within '''two years''' of the incident. See our information on [[Suing Someone in Small Claims Court (Script 166)|suing in Small Claims Court (no. 166)]].
A lawsuit is filed in either Small Claims Court or the Supreme Court of BC, depending on the amount of money sought. There are rules and processes that must be followed. Lawsuits must normally be filed within '''two years''' of the incident. See our information on [[Suing Someone in Small Claims Court (No. 166)|suing in Small Claims Court (no. 166)]].


===Filing a human rights complaint===  
===Filing a human rights complaint===  
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The process starts with you raising your concerns with the RCMP. They may investigate. Their investigation could result in a '''report to Crown counsel''' (the prosecution office in BC) recommending criminal charges against the officer. A senior Crown prosecutor would decide whether to approve the charges.  
The process starts with you raising your concerns with the RCMP. They may investigate. Their investigation could result in a '''report to Crown counsel''' (the prosecution office in BC) recommending criminal charges against the officer. A senior Crown prosecutor would decide whether to approve the charges.  


If the RCMP doesn’t recommend charges, or the prosecutor decides not to charge the officer, you can go before a '''justice of the peace''' to ask that the officer be charged. For more on this process, see our information on [[Charging Someone with a Criminal Offense (Script 215)|charging someone with a criminal offence (no. 215)]].
If the RCMP doesn’t recommend charges, or the prosecutor decides not to charge the officer, you can go before a '''justice of the peace''' to ask that the officer be charged. For more on this process, see our information on [[Charging Someone with a Criminal Offence (No. 215)|charging someone with a criminal offence (no. 215)]].


===If a police incident results in death or serious harm===
===If a police incident results in death or serious harm===
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If the Commission is not satisfied with the RCMP report, it sends an '''interim report''' to the RCMP Commissioner and the federal Minister responsible for the RCMP. The RCMP Commissioner will reply to it, explaining what the RCMP will do, if anything. The Commission then sends a '''final report''' to you, the RCMP Commissioner, the Minister, and the RCMP officer.
If the Commission is not satisfied with the RCMP report, it sends an '''interim report''' to the RCMP Commissioner and the federal Minister responsible for the RCMP. The RCMP Commissioner will reply to it, explaining what the RCMP will do, if anything. The Commission then sends a '''final report''' to you, the RCMP Commissioner, the Minister, and the RCMP officer.


[updated August 2017]
'''The above was last reviewed for legal accuracy by [https://www.crcc-ccetp.gc.ca/ Evelyn Sarault and Denyse Leach], Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP.'''


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