Ministry of Attorney General
About B.C.'s Prosecution Service
B.C.’s prosecution service – the Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Attorney General – contributes to the protection of society by conducting or supervising prosecutions and appeals, at all levels of courts.
In Canada, the administration of justice, including prosecutions and appeals, is a provincial responsibility, although there are some offences prosecuted by federal prosecutors.
B.C.’s prosecution service was formed in 1974. Provincial legislation governing the prosecution service, the Crown Counsel Act, was passed in June 1991.
There are approximately 460 Crown counsel throughout B.C. The prosecution service is divided into five regions – North, Interior, Fraser, Vancouver and Vancouver Island-Powell River. Provincial headquarters is in Victoria. There are criminal appeals and special prosecutions offices in Vancouver and Victoria.
The assistant deputy attorney general of the Criminal Justice Branch is the head of B.C.’s prosecution service.
The Criminal Justice Branch is governed by six fundamental principles in its exercise of prosecutorial discretion: fairness, independence, rule of law, excellence, an attitude of respect and courtesy and commitment.
