The 3 Main Categories of Criminal Offences

In Canada, if you are charged with a criminal offence, the crown counsel decides the type and category of offence that applies to you. There are three main categories of offences, and they each spell a slightly different court process and have different penalties.

In this short article, we will go over with you those three categories:

Summary Offences:

Summary Offences are considered the least serious, and are often called “petty” crimes. They has relatively small fines, shorter jail sentences, if any, and if a trial proceeds, it is in front of a Provincial Court Judge. For these types of offences you may eventually apply for a record suspension.

Indictable Offences

These are much more serious offences with much stiffer penalties, including life in prison. In most cases you will have a choice of having your case heard by a Provincial Court Judge, a BC Supreme Court Judge (without jury), or a BC Supreme Court Judge with a jury.

Hybrid Offences

Regarding hybrid offences, the Crown counsel has the freedom to decide whether the matter should be treated as a Summary Offence or an Indictable one. That choice will depend generally on how serious the crime was.

What is important to note here is that having an experienced defence lawyer is important at every stage of your judicial process. An excellent defence lawyer can make a big different in your case having a good outcome.

For that reason we advise hiring an experienced criminal defence lawyer as soon as possible if you are charged with a crime—and don’t make any statements to police until you have spoken with your lawyer.

Michael Bloom is a very experienced criminal defence lawyer, who started his career as a Crown Prosecutor.

If you have any questions about this article or would like to schedule a free consultation with Mr. Bloom, please call his office at (604) 603-5513 or Toll-Free at (877) 603-5513.