Criminal Code Forms

Near the end of the Criminal Code, there is a collection of official forms that lawyers, peace officers and self-represented people typically use to gather and present information to a court. The Code originally contained 54 numbered forms (Forms 1 to 54); successive amendments have since added many more sub-numbered forms, so the current consolidated Criminal Code contains close to 100 distinct form entries. One example is the 5.001 series of forms, which covers preservation demands and production orders for digital evidence, added by the Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act (S.C. 2014, c. 31). The DNA warrant forms (the 5.01 to 5.09 series) and forms such as 6.1 to 6.4, 7.1, 11.1, 16.1, 28.1, 34.1 to 34.3, and 48.1 to 48.2 were introduced by other amendments over the years.

These forms ensure that information is gathered and shared correctly, for the benefit of all parties in the judicial process. Many of the forms are straightforward to complete, while others are more detailed depending on the nature of the proceeding.

Each form covers a distinct function or step in the legal process. For example, Form 1 sets out what information a police officer must swear before applying for a search warrant, including the reasonable grounds to believe the items sought are at the location. Form 5 is the search warrant itself: a justice signs it to authorize the search, and it specifies the place to be searched, what may be seized, and the hours during which the search may take place.

Many forms are straightforward to fill in, while others are much more detailed. For example, Form 52, Order to Comply with the Sex Offender Information Registration Act, lists eight provisions covering the offender's reporting obligations, how personal information is collected and used, how to correct errors in the registry, the right to apply to a court to end the order, and the consequences — including fines or imprisonment — for breaching the order or providing false information.

Here is a listing of the main numbered Criminal Code forms (Forms 1 to 54). The Code also contains many sub-numbered forms added by later amendments; for the complete list, see the Justice Canada consolidated text.

Form 1: Information To Obtain a Search Warrant

Form 2: Information

Form 3: Repealed [R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 184]

Form 4: Heading of Indictment

Form 5: Warrant To Search 

Form 5.001: Preservation Demand

Form 5.002: Information To Obtain a Preservation Order

Form 5.003: Preservation Order

Form 5.0031: Information To Obtain a Keep Account Open or Active Order

Form 5.0032: Keep Account Open or Active Order

Form 5.004: Information To Obtain a Production Order

Form 5.005: Production Order for Documents

Form 5.0051: Production Order - Specified Dates

Form 5.006: Production Order To Trace a Communication

Form 5.007: Production Order for Transmission Data or Tracking Data

Form 5.008: Production Order for Financial Data

Form 5.0081: Information To Revoke or Vary an Order Made Under Any of Sections 487.013 to 487.018 of the Criminal Code

Form 5.009: Information To Obtain a Non-Disclosure Order

Form 5.0091: Non-Disclosure Order

Form 5.01: Information To Obtain a Warrant To Take Bodily Substances for Forensic DNA Analysis

Form 5.02: Warrant Authorizing the Taking of Bodily Substances for Forensic DNA Analysis

Form 5.03: Order Authorizing the Taking of Bodily Substances for Forensic DNA Analysis

Form 5.04: Order Authorizing the Taking of Bodily Substances for Forensic DNA Analysis

Form 5.041: Order to a Person To Have Bodily Substances Taken for Forensic DNA Analysis

Form 5.05: Application for an Authorization To Take Bodily Substances for Forensic DNA Analysis

Form 5.06: Authorization To Take Bodily Substances for Forensic DNA Analysis

Form 5.061: Summons to a Person To Have Bodily Substances Taken for Forensic DNA Analysis

Form 5.062: Warrant for Arrest

Form 5.07: Report to a Provincial Court Judge or the Court

Form 5.08: Application for an Authorization To Take Additional Samples of Bodily Substances for Forensic DNA Analysis

Form 5.09: Authorization To Take Additional Samples of Bodily Substances for Forensic DNA Analysis

Form 5.1: Notice - Execution of Search Warrant

Form 5.2: Report to a Justice

Form 5.3: Report to a Judge of Property Seized

Form 6: Summons to a Person Charged with an Offence

Form 6.1: Application for a Summons under Section 485.2

Form 6.2: Summons to Appear for the Purposes of the Identification of Criminals Act

Form 6.3: Summons to Appear for the Purposes of Section 490.0132

Form 6.4: Warrant for Arrest

Form 7: Warrant for Arrest

Form 7.1: Warrant To Enter Dwelling-house

Form 8: Warrant for Committal

Form 9: Appearance Notice

Form 10: Undertaking

Form 11: Release Order

Form 11.1: Order to Appear for the Purposes of the Identification of Criminals Act

Form 12: Surety Declaration

Form 13: Repealed [S.C. 2019, c. 25, s. 337]

Form 14: Repealed [S.C. 2019, c. 25, s. 337]

Form 15: Warrant To Convey Accused Before Justice of Another Territorial Division

Form 16: Subpoena to a Witness

Form 16.1: Subpoena to a Witness in the Case of Proceedings in Respect of an Offence Referred to in Subsection 278.2(1) of the Criminal Code

Form 17: Warrant for Witness

Form 18: Warrant To Arrest an Absconding Witness

Form 19: Warrant Remanding a Prisoner

Form 20: Warrant of Committal of Witness for Refusing to Be Sworn or to Give Evidence

Form 21: Warrant of Committal on Conviction

Form 22: Warrant of Committal on an Order for the Payment of Money

Form 23: Warrant of Committal for Failure To Furnish Recognizance To Keep the Peace

Form 24: Warrant of Committal of Witness for Failure to Enter into Recognizance

Form 25: Warrant of Committal for Contempt

Form 26: Warrant of Committal in Default of Payment of Costs of an Appeal

Form 27: Warrant of Committal on Forfeiture of Amounts

Form 28: Endorsement of Warrant

Form 28.1: [no formal statutory title; see Justice Canada consolidated text]

Form 29: Endorsement of Warrant

Form 30: Order for Accused to Be Brought Before Justice Prior to Expiration of Period of Remand

Form 31: Deposition of a Witness

Form 32: Recognizance

Form 33: Certificate of Default to Be Endorsed

Form 34: Writ of Fieri Facias

Form 34.1: Statement on Restitution

Form 34.2: Victim Impact Statement

Form 34.3: Community Impact Statement

Form 35: Conviction

Form 36: Order Against an Offender

Form 37: Order Acquitting Accused

Form 38: Conviction for Contempt

Form 39: Order for Discharge of a Person in Custody

Form 40: Challenge To Array

Form 41: Challenge for Cause

Form 42: Certificate of Non-payment of Costs of Appeal

Form 43: Jailer's Receipt to Peace Officer for Prisoner

Form 44: Fingerprint examiner's certificate (s. 667), no formal statutory title

Form 45: Fingerprint comparison certificate (s. 667), no formal statutory title

Form 46: Probation Order

Form 47: Order To Disclose Income Tax Information

Form 48: Assessment Order of the Court

Form 48.1: Assessment Order of the Review Board

Form 48.2: Victim Impact Statement - Not Criminally Responsible Disposition

Form 49: Warrant of Committal

Form 50: Warrant of Committal

Form 51: Notice of Obligation To Provide Samples of Bodily Substance

Form 52: Order To Comply with Sex Offender Information Registration Act

Form 53: Notice of Obligation To Comply with Sex Offender Information Registration Act

Form 54: Obligation To Comply with Sex Offender Information Registration Act