Criminal Division of Provincial/Territorial Court

A division of the Provincial/Territorial Court that has jurisdiction in all but the most serious criminal offences. There are two categories of criminal offences: summary conviction offences which have a maximum penalty that is normally a $2,000 fine, six months in prison or both; and more serious indictable offences involving more severe penalties. Cases involving summary conviction offences are generally heard in a provincial/territorial court as are preliminary hearings for indictable offences which determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed to a full trial. In most cases, persons accused of an indictable offence may choose to be tried by a provincial/territorial court judge, by a superior court judge, or by a judge of a superior court with a jury.