How Does Bail Work in Ontario?

When you are accused of committing a crime in Ontario, there are basically two ways that you can be released. The first is on your own recognizance, in which case you are responsible for supervising yourself. The second is by bail money put up by a family member or friend who will also be required to promise that he or she will ensure that you will not break any condition of your release until the end of the case. So how does bail work in Ontario? Let’s check out some facts here.

There are approximately 2,300 bail hearings in Ontario’s Superior Court in a year, according to the province’s Ministry of the Attorney General. Most of them are successful in their purpose, which is to secure the release of the person charged with criminal offence prior to trial. Since the country’s constitution guarantees every citizen the right to reasonable bail, release on bail is often considered to be the norm rather than the exception. In Canada, the official term for release on bail is judicial interim release.