Canada - Crime Classification
Crimes are generally divided into summary, indictable, or hybrid offenses. Indictable offenses include only the most serious crimes, which are punishable by at least 2 years imprisonment, such as murder, rape, and robbery.
Summary offenses are less serious, such as motor vehicle offenses and creating a disturbance. Sentences can range from fines (maximum of $2,000.) and probation, to a maximum of 6 months incarceration.
Hybrid or dual offenses can be prosecuted either as summary or indictable offenses, at the decision of the prosecutor. For example, prosecutors typically decide to prosecute the crime of breaking and entering as summary offenses, having the effect of expediting case disposition (i.e., plea-bargaining in the USA).
Only criminal record information concerning indictable and hybrid offences is held by the CPIC (Canadian Police Information Center). Local or provincial police reporting systems may contain various record information relating to summary offences (minor drug) and provincial statute, such as highway and traffic (drunk driving) information. Local police services have independent systems of tracking persons with whom they have come in contact. Information entered into a local police service's system cannot be accessed by another police service unless that information is also entered into the CPIC Database.
Also, the names of persons who have been charged but never convicted cannot be accessed from the CPIC Database, except in cases in which a discharge has been granted. Withdrawn cases are found in the Provincial system. even though discharges are not considered convictions, records of discharged offenses are maintained by CPIC for a limited time.