British Columbia Newcomers'
Guide to Resources
and ServicesThe Legal SystemIn this chapter:
 The
policeSome cities in British Columbia have their own police. But in most
communities, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are the only police. Role
of the police in CanadaIn Canada, the police are separate from the government
and the army. The police are part of the community. Their duty is to protect the
people in the community. Calling the policeSome cities and towns
have two telephone numbers for the police. One is an emergency number and the
other is a non-emergency number. Call the emergency number if you or someone
else is hurt or in danger, or if you see a crime happening. In most areas of the
province, the emergency number is 911. Look in the inside front cover of the telephone
book for the number in your area. Call the non-emergency number if no one
is hurt or in danger. Look in the inside front cover of the telephone book for
this number. If you are not sure which number to call, call the emergency number.
Tell the police what is happening. They will decide if it is an emergency or not.
You can call the police any time–day or night. Hate crimesWhat
if a person hurts you or says they will hurt you because of your skin colour,
religion, national origin, sex or sexual orientation? This is against the law.
Call the police for help. You can also contact the B.C. Hate Crime Team at 604
660-2659 or 1-800-563-0808. Young people and the lawSometimes children
break the law. In Canada, there are special laws for children between 12 and 18
years old. If a young person who is 12 to 17 years old goes to court on
a criminal charge, he or she has the right to a lawyer. Families with children
in trouble with the law may contact probation officers or youth workers for advice.
Look in the Blue Pages of the telephone book, in the Government of British Columbia
section, under "Children and Family Development
– Ministry for." Look for a "Youth Probation Services"
listing in your area.
 Being
a witnessA person who sees something happen, such as a car accident or
a crime, is called a witness. Witnesses are very important to Canadian law. The
information a witness gives may help the police find a criminal or find out who
caused an accident. If you are a witness, it is your duty to inform the police
and appear in court if required. If you see a car accident, give your name and
phone number to the driver. Police arrestsWhat happens if a police
officer arrests you? Police officers must identify themselves and show you their
identification document or badge. They must explain why they are arresting you,
and tell you what your rights are. The officers must let you phone a lawyer
right away. They have to let you talk to a lawyer alone. What if you do
not know a lawyer or cannot afford one? If you are in police custody or the police
officer is asking you questions about a crime, ask the police officer for the
Legal Aid phone number. The officer must give you the number and let you call
them. When the police officer asks, you should give your name and address.
You don't have to say anything more until after you talk to a lawyer. Within 24
hours, the police must take you to court or let you go.
Going
to courtIn Canada, the government makes the law. The courts keep the law,
but they are separate from the government. Everyone must obey Canada's laws. Members
of the police, the army, and the government must also obey the law. There
are different types of courts, such as Traffic Court and Family Court, for different
problems. If you go to court, you can ask for an interpreter who speaks
your language. For a criminal trial, people who speak French can ask for French
language services. You must do this before the trial begins.
Finding
a lawyerIf you have a legal problem, you may need a lawyer. Sometimes
a lawyer can help you solve a problem before you go to court. How to find
a lawyer: - Ask your friends.
- Talk to the people at an
immigrant settlement agency.
- Contact the Lawyer Referral Service.
This service will give you the name of a lawyer who will talk to you for up to
30 minutes for $10. The Lawyer Referral Service is run by the Canadian Bar Association.
In Vancouver, call 604 687-3221. Elsewhere, call 1-800-663-1919. This service
is listed in the Yellow Pages of the telephone book under "Lawyer Referral/Regulation."
What
if you cannot afford a lawyer?Legal Aid – Look in the White
Pages of the telephone book under "Legal Aid." Legal Aid is a free service
for people with legal problems who cannot afford to pay a lawyer. It is administered
by the Legal Services Society of B.C. The Legal Services Society can also give
you legal information over the phone on their Law Line. In the Lower Mainland,
the Legal Services Society is 604 601-6000, and the Law Line is at 604 601-6100. UBC
Law Students Legal Advice Program – Law students, supervised by lawyers,
give free law classes in many communities in the Vancouver area. Contact them
at 604 822-5791. Dial-a-Law – You can phone Dial-a-Law for
free information about the law. This is a library of tapes prepared by lawyers.
In the Vancouver area, call 604 687-4680. Elsewhere in B.C., call 1-800-565-5297.
For
more informationLaw Courts Education Society – If you want
to know how the court system in B.C. works, or to get pamphlets and information
on the court system, you can contact the Law Courts Education Society. You can
also arrange for a tour of your local court house. Call 604 660-9870 for information.
Website: http://www.lawcourtsed.ca/ People's
Law School – Contact the People's Law School if you want to arrange
for a free law class in your community centre, school, or library. The People's
Law School is located at 150-900 Howe Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2M4, telephone
604 688-2565. They can arrange classes anywhere in the province. They also have
free publications available. Website:
http://www.publiclegaled.bc.ca/
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