Criminal Law Problems

Legal Help Guide
This page is from the wikibook Legal Help for British Columbians. See the full contents and contributors.
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Here are the first steps and some useful resources for people in BC facing these problems with the criminal justice system:

I've been charged with a criminal offence and have to go to court.
[[I've been accused of a criminal offence and have been offered "diversion", "restorative justice" or "alternative measures"].
I have a criminal record and want to get a pardon.

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Legal Help for British Columbians

Getting Started

Introduction · Know Any Good Lawyers?

Common Legal Problems

Complaints about Authorities	I Was Harassed or Assaulted by the Police · A Provincial Government Worker Was Abusive to Me · A Federal Government Worker Was Abusive to Me · I Was Abused in a Residential School

Consumer and Debt	I Don't Have Enough Money to Pay My Debts · The Bank Is Threatening Foreclosure on My Home · A Debt Collector Is Harassing Me · I Bought a Product from a Door-to-Door Salesperson and No Longer Want It · My Car Broke Down and the Dealer Won't Fix It · I Want to Get out of My Cellphone Contract

Criminal Law	I've Been Charged with a Criminal Offence and Have to Go to Court · I've Been Offered "Diversion" · I Want to Change My Release Conditions · I Want to Move My Criminal Case Closer to Home · I Want to Have My Criminal Record Removed · I Want My Criminal Case to Be Dealt with in First Nations Court

Employment Law	My Employer Isn't Paying My Wages · I Have Been Dismissed (Fired) without Just Cause · I've Been Turned down for Employment Insurance Benefits · I've Been Cut off Workers' Compensation Benefits

Family Law	I Have a Family Problem and I Want to Resolve It out of Court · I Just Separated from the Other Parent of My Children · My Partner Is Abusing Me and My Kids · My Ex Is Not Paying Child Support · I Don't Want the Ministry to Take My Kids · The Ministry Has Taken My Kids

Housing	My Landlord Wants to Enter My Unit without My Permission · My Landlord Wants to Evict Me · My Landlord Wants to Keep My Deposit

Human Rights	I Am Being Discriminated against or Sexually Harassed

Immigration	I Want to Claim Refugee Status in Canada · I'm a Permanent Resident and Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offence · My Husband Sponsored Me and We Have Now Separated

Mental Health	A Relative Has Been Held against Their Will in a Mental Health Facility

Personal Planning	I Want to Get My Affairs in Order in Case I Become Incapable · I Want to Help a Friend or Relative Manage Their Affairs

Suing and Being Sued	I Am Being Sued · I Need to Take Someone to Court

Welfare and Disability	I Have No Money for Food or Shelter · I Have Been Denied or Cut off Welfare · I Need to Apply for Disability Benefits · I'm Being Investigated by the Welfare Ministry

Wills and Estates	I Want to Write a Will · I Am the Executor or Administrator of an Estate

Resource List

(see all resource listings on one page)

Information or self-help	AdminLawBC.ca · BC Civil Liberties Association · Clicklaw · Consumer Protection BC · Courthouse Libraries BC · Credit Counselling Society of BC · Dial-A-Law (People's Law School) · Family Law in BC · Legal Services Society · Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre · People's Law School · PovNet · Public Libraries · Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre · Vehicle Sales Authority of BC · Victims Info · VictimLINK

Legal advocacy, advice or representation	Access Pro Bono · Advocacy Access Program · BC Human Rights Clinic · Community Legal Assistance Society · Duty Counsel · Family LawLINE · First Nations Court Duty Counsel · Law Students' Legal Advice Program · Lawyer Referral Service · Legal Aid Representation · Legal Services Society · Mediate BC · Native Courtworkers · Private Bar Lawyers · Salvation Army Pro Bono Lawyer Consultation Program · Seniors First BC

Counselling or support	BC Society of Transition Houses · Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver · Indian Residential School Survivors Society · MOSAIC

Government services	BC Employment and Assistance · Employment Standards Branch of BC · Employment Standards (Canada) · Family Justice Centres · Family Maintenance Enforcement Program · Government of Canada's Settlement Services Directory · Helpline for Children in BC · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · Indian Residential Schools of AANDC · Ombudsperson · Parole Board of Canada · Police Complaints Commissioner (BC) · Public Guardian and Trustee · Residential Tenancy Branch · Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP · Service BC · Service Canada · Vital Statistics Agency · Workers' Advisers

Laws, cases & rules	BC Laws · CanLII · Courts of BC · Federal Court of Canada · Small Claims Court

Preparing for Your Interview

Sample form to prepare for meeting with a lawyer or advocate

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