This page explains where the legal information on Criminal Code Help comes from and how we cite it.
Primary sources first
The substantive legal claims on an offence page are meant to trace back to primary legal sources, not to secondary summaries, blog posts, or another website's interpretation. We use:
- The Criminal Code of Canada and related federal statutes (such as the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Cannabis Act, and the Youth Criminal Justice Act), as published on the Government of Canada's Justice Laws website.
- Case law, where a court decision is relevant to how an offence or defence is understood, cited to CanLII or to the Supreme Court of Canada's own website.
We do not invent or paraphrase a quotation from a statute or a judgment. Where we summarize a section or a case in plain language instead of quoting it directly, we say so openly, for example: "In plain language, this section generally deals with..."
How citations appear on a page
Most offence pages include a sources area listing the specific statute section(s) the page is based on, with a link to the official Justice Laws text for that section. Where a page draws on more than one statute (for example, the Criminal Code and the Cannabis Act), each source is listed separately rather than combined into a single reference.
Each listed source shows a status note, such as:
- Source current to - the source text was current as of a given point.
- Last reviewed by CCH - the date our editorial team last checked the page against this source.
- Last amended - the date this provision was last amended. We only publish this date when it has been verified against an authoritative source (such as the Justice Laws consolidation history); we do not estimate it.
- Previous version checked - flagged where a prior version of the section was the basis for an earlier review.
We do not guess or estimate a legislative amendment date. If we cannot verify a date against an authoritative source, we do not publish one.
What "last reviewed" means
A "last reviewed" date on a page means our editorial team checked that page's content against its listed sources as of that date. It is editorial, not legal advice, and it is not a guarantee that the page reflects every legislative change or court decision made since then. The Criminal Code is amended periodically, and case law develops over time. See How We Produce and Review Our Content for the review process itself.
General information, not a legal record
Even where a page is carefully sourced and cited, it remains general information about the law, not a legal record of any specific case and not advice about any specific situation.
General information only. Not legal advice. Viewing this content does not create a lawyer-client relationship.
Criminal procedure also varies by province and territory. A citation to a federal statute or a case from one jurisdiction does not necessarily describe how a court in your province will apply it. Confirm current law and local procedure with a lawyer licensed in your province or territory.
Lawyer directory listings are separate from editorial content
Lawyer profiles, verified-profile badges, and featured listings in our directory are not editorial content and are not subject to the sourcing standard on this page. Featured listings are paid placements:
Featured, sponsored, or promoted listings are paid placements. CCH does not recommend lawyers or rank them by quality, ability, suitability, or expected outcome.
This is a separate, paid-placement-specific disclosure from the general non-endorsement statement that also appears elsewhere on this site ("Criminal Code Help does not endorse or recommend specific lawyers."). Both are used intentionally, as they cover distinct points: the general statement applies site-wide, and the paid-placement disclosure specifically identifies featured, sponsored, or promoted listings as paid.
Verification of a directory profile means that the lawyer or an authorized representative has claimed or confirmed control of the profile. It does not assess legal ability, licensing status, good standing, disciplinary history, availability, fees, or suitability for any specific matter, and it is not an editorial endorsement.