The Essential Guide to Prosecutions in Canada

The Essential Guide to Prosecutions in Canada by Brandon Trask illuminates the nuances of prosecutorial practice across every public prosecution service in Canada. Drawing on comprehensive references to Crown policy manuals, case law insights, and proven prosecutorial experience, this indispensable volume offers in-depth analysis and strategic advice to elevate criminal legal practice.

This guide discusses some of the most common and challenging issues that arise when dealing with prosecutions and paves the way to mastering the intricacies from case inception to courtroom procedures. It will be of assistance to Crown attorneys, especially those in their first years of practice, defence counsel, members of the judiciary, articling students and law students alike.

Topics Covered

• Decision-making and bail
• Disclosure
• Crown election and direct indictment
• Plea bargaining and sentencing
• Jury selection
• Specialized courts
• Diversion and restorative justice
• Child witnesses, child victims and youth justice
• Sexual offences, spousal violence and intimate partner violence
• Appeals
• Private Prosecutions

Features of This Book

• Each chapter incorporates an introductory discussion of the legal topic, followed by a plain-language summary of each jurisdiction’s policy in the area, as well as an excerpt from the actual relevant policies
• The jurisdictional summaries comprise of point-form tip sheets and comparison charts that evaluate each public prosecution service’s policies with regard to each topic
• Five chapters also include an in-depth critical assessment, which will help with discussions of driving policy improvements in these essential areas, where there is a great deal of inconsistency across Canada

Who Should Read This Book

• Crown attorneys and criminal lawyers – provides practical guidance and clarity on policy-related prosecutorial issues across every public prosecution service in Canada
• Judges – answers questions in relation to prosecutorial decision-making in Canada
• Articling students, law schools, and law libraries – addresses the practical and legal issues that emerge with Canadian prosecutions