25-2 The Justice System.pdf

(From Left to Right) Jury benches Ottawa police constable helping a young boy at the Aboriginal Day Flotilla Prisons have an essential role in punishing criminals and deterring crime Getting legal help na da Lawyers can help you with legal problems and act for you in court. If you cannot pay for a l...

(From Left to Right) Jury benches Ottawa police constable helping a young boy at the Aboriginal Day Flotilla Prisons have an essential role in punishing criminals and deterring crime Getting legal help na da Lawyers can help you with legal problems and act for you in court. If you cannot pay for a lawyer, in most communities there are legal aid services available free of charge or at a low cost. Ca The police are there to keep people safe and to enforce the law. You can ask the police for help in all kinds of situations—if there’s been an accident, if someone has stolen something from you, if you are a victim of assault, if you see a crime taking place or if someone you know has gone missing. ver Police You can also question the police about their service or conduct if you feel you need to. Almost all police forces in Canada have a process by which you can bring your concerns to the police and seek action. sco The Supreme Court of Canada is our country’s highest court. The Federal Court of Canada deals with matters concerning the federal government. In most provinces there is an appeal court and a trial court, sometimes called the Court of Queen’s Bench or the Supreme Court. There are also provincial courts for lesser offences, family courts, traffic courts and small claims courts for civil cases involving small sums of money. There are different types of police in Canada. There are provincial police forces in Ontario and Quebec and municipal police departments in all provinces. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) enforce federal laws throughout Canada, and serve as the provincial police in all provinces and territories except Ontario and Quebec, as well as in some municipalities. Remember, the police are there to help you. Di Courts 37