The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees basic rights to everyone – including teenagers. The resources below explain your legal rights in various common situations, how criminal law applies to young people, and what to expect in youth court.

Good starting points include:

• Young People and the Criminal Law, from the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch, is a factsheet about your rights if the police stop and question you, if you are arrested, and if you are charged with an offence but not arrested.
• Youth and Criminal Law, from the Justice Education Society of BC, uses videos to cover youth rights in a range of situations, including: your rights in a car, your locker, parties, at the border, tagging, and more.
• Youth Justice Court Trials, from the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch, discusses what happens in youth court.
• LSLAP Manual: Youth Justice, from the UBC Law Students' Legal Advice Program, includes an overview of criminal procedure and sentencing of young people.

Need more help?

• Call Legal Services Society at 1-866-577-2525 or 604-408-2172 to see if you qualify for legal aid.
• Lawyer Referral Service, from CBA BC, helps you connect with a lawyer for an initial consultation of up to 30 minutes for $25 plus taxes.
• Law Students Legal Advice Clinics, from UBC Law Students' Legal Advice Program (LSLAP), provides free legal advice and representation to low income clients.
• Find more help near you on Clicklaw HelpMap.

See our related common questions:

• See all common questions about children & teens
• See all common questions about crimes & offences
• See all common questions about rights & citizenship

tags

rights of children & teens, young people and criminal law, youth court, young offenders