Welcome to JFCY’s Legal Wiki which provides information about the legal rights of children and youth in Ontario. Click here to download this information from our Publications page. Please contact us if you have any questions or trouble finding the information that you seek. You should speak to a lawyer for legal advice since laws often change.
There are also many help lines that you can call for assistance during or after reporting a crime. For example, the Toronto Police Service has a ‘Special Victims Section’ for victims of sex crimes. There are also specialized agencies to assist preparing young persons for court.
Assaulted Women’s Help Line: 24 hour counselling and referral services by telephone
Kids Help Phone (up to 20 years of age):
Toronto Police Service:
Toronto Police Service:
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre: 24-hour counselling, short-term 1:1 counselling and court support
As a victim of a crime, you may be requested to come to court to give testimony against the accused in your case.
The Crown Prosecutor or defence counsel may subpoena you so that you must come to court. If you are subpoenaed and you do not go to court, a witness warrant may be issued against you and you can be arrested and brought into court by the police.
If you are testifying, you must tell the truth, or risk being charged with perjury for lying under oath. Importantly, nothing you say while testifying on the stand can be used as evidence against you criminally. For example: You were selling drugs in an alley way and the person buying the drugs from you robbed you – beat you up and stole your wallet. You are now testifying as the victim of the robbery. The Crown Prosecutor asked you what you were doing in the alleyway – and you answered that you were selling drugs. Even though you admitted in court that you were doing an illegal activity, you could not later be prosecuted for trafficking drugs because you were forced (subpoenaed) to go to court that day and answer questions about the incident.
You can sue someone that hurt you in civil court. Superior court claims are for damages over $35,000. Small claims court, for claims under $35,000, provides a simplified procedure you to make a legal action against somebody who harmed you. For more information, see the Small Claims Court section.
Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) counselling program
Victim Quick Response Program+
Barbara Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre
Ontario Victim Support Line
Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence / Child Violence Care Centre
Toronto Police Service Victim Services
Note: the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board is permanently closed. Any questions about continuing payments from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, you can contact the Victims and Vulnerable Persons Division (VVPD) of the Ministry of the Attorney General at 1-833-704-2610.
The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) provides unique rights and procedures for young people between the ages of 12 - 17 who are charged with a criminal offence in Canada.
Going to school is a legal requirement for young people between the ages of 6 and 17. The Education Act gives parents and children specific rights in the publicly funded school system.
In Ontario, you can choose where you live when you are 16 years old. The decision to leave is often not easy and can lead to difficulties in getting all your belongings, having enough money to support yourself and attending school.
Become informed about your legal rights when it comes to decisions about your healthcare and mental healthcare treatment. This includes any procedure carried out or prescribed by a health practitioner to diagnose or treat a physical or mental health condition.
The Ontario Human Rights Code protects you from discrimination on many grounds and in many social areas. Specific legal concerns raised by youth identifying in LGBTQI2S communities are about GSAs, Trans and Gender Inclusive Spaces and changing their ID.
You can be given a ticket for breaking a provincial law if you are over the age of 16. Some of the common laws that young people are given tickets for is covered in this section.
Emergency help, criminal court, civil remedy and other supports
There are also many help lines that you can call for assistance during or after reporting a crime. For example, the Toronto Police Service has a ‘Special Victims Section’ for victims of sex crimes. There are also specialized agencies to assist preparing young persons for court.
Assaulted Women’s Help Line: 24 hour counselling and referral services by telephone
Kids Help Phone (up to 20 years of age):
Toronto Police Service:
Toronto Police Service:
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre: 24-hour counselling, short-term 1:1 counselling and court support
As a victim of a crime, you may be requested to come to court to give testimony against the accused in your case.
The Crown Prosecutor or defence counsel may subpoena you so that you must come to court. If you are subpoenaed and you do not go to court, a witness warrant may be issued against you and you can be arrested and brought into court by the police.
If you are testifying, you must tell the truth, or risk being charged with perjury for lying under oath. Importantly, nothing you say while testifying on the stand can be used as evidence against you criminally. For example: You were selling drugs in an alley way and the person buying the drugs from you robbed you – beat you up and stole your wallet. You are now testifying as the victim of the robbery. The Crown Prosecutor asked you what you were doing in the alleyway – and you answered that you were selling drugs. Even though you admitted in court that you were doing an illegal activity, you could not later be prosecuted for trafficking drugs because you were forced (subpoenaed) to go to court that day and answer questions about the incident.
You can sue someone that hurt you in civil court. Superior court claims are for damages over $35,000. Small claims court, for claims under $35,000, provides a simplified procedure you to make a legal action against somebody who harmed you. For more information, see the Small Claims Court section.
Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) counselling program
Victim Quick Response Program+
Barbara Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre
Ontario Victim Support Line
Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence / Child Violence Care Centre
Toronto Police Service Victim Services
Note: the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board is permanently closed. Any questions about continuing payments from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, you can contact the Victims and Vulnerable Persons Division (VVPD) of the Ministry of the Attorney General at 1-833-704-2610.
In family law, the rights of children are unique. Become informed about going into and being in the care of a Children's Aid Society, when parents can assault you (corporal punishment / spanking exemption to assault), and your right to be heard when your parents are splitting up.
JFCY's Childhood Arrivals and Support & Advocacy Program (CASA) provides services to young people who arrived in Canada as children and are living in Ontario without immigration status.
Street Youth Legal Services (SYLS) is a program that provides information and services for homeless youth between the ages of 16 - 25. These are some of the common issues that the SYLS lawyer is asked about.
