Two Foundational Guidelines
Alberta Crown prosecutors manual updated
Jun 30, 2022 | 2:51 PM
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The Alberta government says it has updated the Alberta Crown prosecutor’s manual to further protect victims and to crack down on hate crimes.
Within the manual there are two foundational guidelines – The Code of Conduct for Crown Prosecutors Guideline and the Decision to Prosecute Guideline.
Updates to the guidelines include:
- Explicitly requiring prosecutors to provide the court with an accused’s criminal record when speaking to bail.
- Requiring Crown prosecutors to consider whether the use of force defence in the Criminal Code should preclude prosecution against victims of crime.
- Consideration must be given to the role of the individual in the incident, including whether they are the victim of crime.
- If an incident occurs in a remote or rural location, and self-defence is raised, a prosecutor may give consideration to location.
- Explicitly directing prosecutors that it will generally be in the public interest to proceed with a prosecution where:
- The victim was vulnerable, including a person who resides in a rural or remote geographical location.
- An offence was motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, or any other similar factor.
- The accused is likely a repeat offender, the accused has reoffended or breached while bound by bail or sentencing conditions.
