The Law of Police Accountability in Canada

The Law of Police Accountability in Canada offers a comprehensive overview of police accountability in Canada, examining the law governing police conduct and the mechanisms available to hold police officers accountable across Canadian jurisdictions.

This practical resource will help lawyers, police agencies, oversight bodies and community stakeholders understand the varied and complex police accountability mechanisms in Canada.

Author Jason D. Tree explores the legal sources of police powers, surveys Canada’s unique policing landscape, and details police discipline and oversight regimes across each Canadian province and territory. He identifies common concerns in police conduct and tackles mechanisms of accountability across criminal law, tort law and administrative law.

As a former frontline police officer and current senior counsel in the field of police oversight, Tree provides a uniquely informed perspective on policing models, training, and the role of oversight agencies, grappling with current challenges in police accountability and identifying avenues for improvement.

Who Should Read This Book

• In-house counsel to police services and oversight agencies to provide accurate and timely legal advice
• Large law firms representing municipalities in actions against police services to understand the overlapping accountability processes that may overlap with civil litigation
• Small law firms representing plaintiffs or defendant police officers to understand how criminal, civil and professional discipline matters may overlap and interact
• Police officers to understand the law underlying police powers and the various constraints on their authority
• Police professional standards staff to understand the standards applicable to police officers and the ways in which various accountability mechanisms can interact with internal discipline process
• Government policy makers to consider future possibilities for enhancing accountability
• Legal clinics and NGOs active in police accountability and those representing marginalized communities to advocate effectively for meaningful accountability mechanisms