Criminal justice records
A listing of Criminal Justice record series in our collection, including police investigations and court records.
About our criminal justice records
We have the following criminal justice records, up to the 1980s (with some gaps):
- Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and coroner records
- criminal indictment, court and judges’ records
- correctional, probation and parole records
What we don’t have
We don’t hold the records of:
- municipal police forces
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
You need to contact these bodies directly if you need access to their records.
Access restrictions
Access to most criminal justice records is governed by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). To access records from the last 100 years, you’ll need to submit a Freedom of Information Request.
Records of juvenile delinquents since 1908 are covered by the Youth Criminal Justice Act and can only be viewed by the individual named in the file.
Information you need to request a criminal justice file
To request a criminal justice record, you need to provide information about:
- where the event took place
- when it took place
- who was involved
For coroner records, you also need to provide:
- the name of the deceased
For police records:
- type of crime
- name(s) of accused and victim(s)
For court records (including indictment files):
- type of crime
- name of accused
For jail, probation and parole records:
- location where the individual was jailed
- individual’s name
Contact us to inquire about accessing a record, or submit a Freedom of Information request directly if you know that the records are from the last 100 years.
Investigation records
Ontario Provincial Police records
Although the OPP was formed in 1908, the Archives holds sold OPP investigation records starting from 1901 to around 1983.
Coroners’ records
We have coroners’ records for most counties and districts from 1821 to 1963, but we have some county records up to 1974. These records may include investigations, inquests case files, registers, and returns.
Most records after 1963 are with the Chief Coroner’s Office. For information on how to access these records, please submit a Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
The following deaths are investigated by coroners:
- Suspicious or unexplained deaths
- Deaths that appear to be caused by an accident, homicide, or suicide
- Deaths on construction sites, quarries, pits, or mines
- Deaths that occurred while a person was detained or when force by a police officer was involved
Other investigation records
Office of the Chief Coroner major accident inquest files, 1949 to 1980 (RG 33-26)
These records may include reports and medical records from coroners, pathologists, hospitals, OPP, municipal police, and other related materials. These files involve major accidents that occurred in Ontario. Please see RG 33-26 for more information.
Centre for Forensic Sciences case files, 1932 to 1961 (RG 33-28)
These records may include police reports describing crime scenes, evidence, notes take by laboratory staff, and the laboratory’s report to the police. Please see RG 33-28 for more information.
Office of the Fire Marshall investigation case files, 1929 to 2001 (RG 33-30)
These records involve investigations into fires resulting in death, explosions, and major damage. They may include an investigation report, witness statements, correspondence, schematic site drawings and plans, and a final report of the findings. Please see RG 33-30 for more information.
Indictment files
Supreme Court indictment files
These records involve indictments that were tried before the Supreme Court of Ontario, for offences such as murder, rape, arson, theft, and fraud.
If you are looking for a file of a specific person, select “view the description hierarchy” in the RG 22-392 record description or do a search for the name in Collection Search.
Supreme Court Registrar’s criminal indictment files, 1930 to 1979 (RG 22-517)
These records involve indictments for major crimes tried before the Supreme Court of Ontario.
Other indictment files
We have some indictment files from lower courts in the following counties/districts:
- Lambton
- Lanark
- Lincoln
- Peel
- York
- Sudbury
- Thunder Bay
To find these records, search our Collection Search combining a county name and the term “indictment.”
We also have indictment case files for the Supreme Court of Ontario, Sudbury district, 1927 to 1975 and 1981 to 1986. Please see RG 22-5010 for more information.
Court records
In addition to indictment files, courts created records to document the proceedings.
Most of these records do not include transcripts.
Criminal courts
Magistrates’ Courts, existed from 1849 to 1968
These courts existed in many municipalities with populations over 5,000. This is where minor criminals would first appear in court for “petty” offences and by-law infractions. Before 1934, these courts were also known as Police Magistrates’ Courts, Police Courts, or Mayor’s Courts, but few records from these courts have survived.
Provincial Court (Criminal Division), existed from 1968 to 1989
This court existed in all counties and districts and dealt with criminal matters that used to be handled by the Magistrates’ Courts.
Courts of General Sessions of the Peace, existed from 1777 to 1984
County and District Court Judges’ Criminal Courts, existed from 1869 to 1984
These courts existed in all counties and districts and dealt with minor crimes, such as assault, misdemeanours, and “petit larceny” (minor theft). Before 1841, the Sessions were also responsible for local administration.
District Court, existed from 1984 to 1989
This court existed in all counties and districts. It dealt with the criminal matters previously assigned to the Court of General Sessions of the Peace and the County or District Judges’ Criminal Courts.
Ontario Court of Justice, since 1989
This court exists at various locations throughout the provinces. It deals with minor criminal and family issues, as well as provincial offences. It was called the Ontario Court of Justice, Provincial Division until 1999.
Family and young offender courts
Juvenile and Family courts, existed from 1910 to 1968
Provincial Court (Family Division), existed from 1968 to 1989
These courts existed in all counties and districts. They dealt with criminal and civil issues including young offenders, as well as various domestic and family law matters (but not divorces)
United Family Court, existed from 1977 to 1994
This court dealt with all criminal and civil family law issues, including young offenders, until it was replaced by the Ontario Court of Justice Family Court
Courts of Justice (General Division) Family Court, existed since 1994
This court exists in parts of the province. Where it doesn’t exist, family law responsibilities are divided between the Ontario Court of Justice (including young offenders) and the Superior Court of Justice
Courts of superior jurisdiction
Court of Queen’s (or King’s) Bench, existed from 1794 to 1881
Court of Common Pleas, existed from 1849 to 1881
Common Pleas Division, existed from 1881 to 1913
Queen’s Bench Division, existed from 1881 to 1913
High Court of Justice, existed from 1881 to 1989
Supreme Court (Ontario), existed from 1881 to 1989
These courts were based in Toronto, and they had jurisdiction over all criminal offenses, but they mainly dealt with major indictable offenses, such as murder, manslaughter, sexual assault, and fraud.
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