Courts of Saskatchewan

Adult Criminal Court

Provincial Court

The Adult Criminal Division of the Provincial Court deals with the large majority of all criminal charges laid in the province of Saskatchewan. This includes charges under the Criminal Code of Canada, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Income Tax Act and other statutes passed by the Parliament of Canada. The court is held in 13 major centres where permanent court offices are located, as well as in more than 60 other circuit point locations in the province.

Criminal offences in Canada are divided into summary offences and indictable offences. All criminal charges begin with an appearance in Provincial Court. All summary offences and some indictable offences are heard entirely in Provincial Court by a Provincial Court judge. Other indictable offences have a right-of-election by the person charged.

This means the person charged can choose to be tried by:

• a Provincial Court judge;
• a King’s Bench judge sitting alone; or
• a King’s Bench judge and jury.

In the event that an election is made to have a trial in the Court of King’s Bench, either by a judge alone or by a judge and jury, a preliminary hearing is held in Provincial Court. The election for trial in Provincial Court will mean that the trial takes place in Provincial Court without a preliminary hearing.

In both summary and indictable matters, however, disclosure is made by the Crown Prosecutor to any person charged with an offence who requests disclosure.

In Regina and Saskatoon, Traffic Safety Court and Bylaw Court deal with offences under specific provincial statutes. In all court locations other than Saskatoon and Regina, charges laid under these provincial statutes are dealt with in Provincial Court as part of regular court matters.

If you’ve been charged with a criminal offence, you may find the information on the page, Going to Court, helpful.

This handbook for self-represented accused, prepared by the Canadian Judicial Council, may also be helpful.