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Provincial Court Judges
There are currently three Provincial Court Judges in Prince Edward Island.
You cannot contact a judge directly about a case that is before the Court. That includes phone calls, emails or letters. The judge can only deal with the information that is provided by the Crown Prosecutor, the defense counsel or the evidence that is presented in Court during the trial or sentencing hearing. Provincial Court Judges cannot receive information from a member of a victim or accused’s family, from a witness or from a member of the general public. If you have a concern about a case that is before the Court, you can contact the Crown Prosecutor’s office, the police agency that is involved or the accused’s lawyer to discuss your concerns.
Learning is a life-long process. It is no different for judges. To assist in their professional development, judges participate in ongoing education throughout their judicial careers to keep current with changes in the law and in society.
Justices of the Peace
Judicial Justices of the Peace will have the authority to conduct judicial interim release hearings (bail hearings) and issue search warrants, authorizations and other orders as authorized to issue under the Criminal Code (Canada) or other federal or provincial legislation. Under the provisions of the Justice of the Peace Act, when proclaimed in effect, they are required to be legally trained.
Staff justices of the peace are employees of the Department of Justice and have jurisdiction throughout the province to exercise the non-adjudicative powers and perform the duties conferred or imposed on justices of the peace by or under an enactment or federal legislation. They also have the authority to issue a summons or a subpoena, and under provincial legislation to accept a guilty plea to a summary offence ticket or set a hearing date.
Court Clerks
In addition to carrying out duties as a staff justice of the peace, court clerks are responsible for ensuring all court proceedings are recorded, as well as taking notes of the proceedings. They handle all exhibits, administer oaths to the witnesses and prepare any warrants or probation orders required. If required, they prepare typed transcripts of the proceedings for reference in an appeal or for a parole hearing.
Crown Prosecutors
Crown prosecutors are lawyers who work for the federal or provincial government, and prosecute offences under federal and criminal legislation. There is not an office for the federal prosecution service in P.E.I. but instead, lawyers in private law firms act as agents for the federal prosecution service, and are responsible for prosecuting offences under certain federal statutes, such as the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Fisheries Act, the Employment Insurance Act, the Cannabis Act, and the Income Tax Act. Those who are responsible for prosecuting offences under the Criminal Code of Canada, as well as provincial legislation such as the Highway Traffic Act, the Victims of Violence Act, the Environmental Protection Act, the Trespass to Property Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, or the Dog Act, to name just a few, have offices at Summerside (which deals with matters in Prince County) and Charlottetown (which deals with matters in Queens and Kings County).
Crown Attorney's Office
50 Water Street
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 1A4
Telephone: 902-368-4595
Fax: 902-368-5812
Crown Attorney's Office
243 Harbour Drive,
Summerside, PEI C1N 5R1
Telephone: 902-888-8213
Fax: 902-888-8224
Defence Counsel
If you are looking for a lawyer in private practice, you may want to check the website of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island where they are all listed or the Yellow Pages of the phone book.
Lawyer Referral Service
The Community Legal Information Association of PEI (CLIA) has a Lawyer Referral Service at 1-800-240-9798 (toll free) or 902-892-0853 available Monday to Thursday between 9 a.m. and 3:30 pm. Once you indicate the type of problem you have, the service will give you the name of a lawyer. You make an appointment with that lawyer and with the referral from CLIA, the lawyer will give you up to a 45 minute consultation for $25 plus HST. The lawyer will tell you whether he or she thinks you have a legal problem, what would be involved in addressing the issue, how long it should take, and an estimate of what it will cost.
Prince Edward Island Legal Aid
Staff lawyers provide legal representation and assistance to low income individuals who have serious legal needs in the areas of criminal law and youth criminal justice. Through this program lawyers are provided to represent eligible adults or young persons who would otherwise be unable to afford legal counsel to deal with a serious criminal charge or investigation. There is no duty counsel program in PEI. You should contact the legal aid office in advance of your first court appearance and make an application for their services. You will be asked questions about your financial circumstances and may be required to provide proof of your employment or your last income tax return. If you qualify for legal aid, a staff lawyer will be provided to you at no charge to yourself. PEI Legal Aid has offices in Summerside and Charlottetown and can be contacted as follows:
Charlottetown Criminal Office
40 Great George Street
PO Box 2000
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7N8
Telephone: 902-368-6043
Fax: 902-368-6122
Summerside Criminal Office
2nd Floor, 120 Heather Moyse Drive
Summerside, PEI C1N 5Y8
Telephone: 902-888-8219
Fax: 902-438-4071
Sheriffs
In addition to their duties of serving documents, executing writs, and conducting mortgage sales, the Deputy Sheriffs are present in the courtroom during all proceedings. They are responsible for security in the courtroom and escort those in custody back and forth between the court room and the holding cells. They also are responsible for security at the entrances to the Courthouses and conduct the screening of those entering the building (similar to an airport).
Probation Officers
Probation officers prepare presentence reports or provide progress reports for the assistance of the court in determining an appropriate sentence. They meet regularly with offenders who have been sentenced to serve a period of probation, to provide support and assistance to the offender in achieving rehabilitation.
Probation Services Charlottetown
42 Great George Street,
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 4J9
Telephone: 902-368-6061
Fax: 902-368-4579
Summerside Probation Services
109 Water Street,
Summerside, PEI C1N 1A8
Telephone: 902-888-8200
Fax: 902-888-8214
Alberton Probation Services
Access PEI
116 Dufferin Street,
Alberton, PEI C0B 1B0
Telephone: 902-853-8622
Fax: 902-853-0413
O’Leary Probation Services
Access PEI
45 East Drive,
O'Leary PEI C0B 1V0
Telephone: 902-859-8806
Fax: 902-859-8709
Montague Probation Services
Access PEI
41 Wood Islands Road,
Montague PEI C0A 1R0
Telephone: 902-838-0641
Fax: 902-838-0646
Souris Probation Services
Access PEI
15 Green Street,
Souris, PEI C0A 2B0
Telephone: 902-687-7017
Fax: 902-687-7091
Victim Services
Victim Services assists victims of crime throughout their involvement in the criminal justice system. Assistance is available to those who feel they have been victimized regardless of whether a complaint has been made to the police or a charge has been laid. Victim service workers may provide referrals to community and counselling services and assist victims in understanding and navigating the court process, preparing for court, applications under the Victims of family Violence Act, and preparing a victim impact statement to be filed with the court. For more information contact:
Victim Services: Queens and Kings County
1 Harbourside Access Rd
PO Box 2000
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7N8
Telephone: 902-368-4582
Fax: 902-368-4514
Victim Services: Prince County
263 Heather Moyse Drive
Suite 19, 2nd Floor
Summerside, PEI C1N 5P1
Telephone: 902-888-8218
Fax: 902-888-8410