When things go sideways
If you slip up
Healing is not a straight line, and the process has ways to deal with a setback. If you've missed an appointment or broken a condition, here is what to do right away.
Missed a court date? Call your lawyer or First Nations Court duty counsel right away: 604-601-6074 in Greater Vancouver, or 1-877-601-6066 anywhere else in BC.
Do this now
- Call your lawyer, or First Nations Court duty counsel: 604-601-6074 in Greater Vancouver, 1-877-601-6066 anywhere else in BC. The call is free.
- Contact your Native Courtworker: 1-877-811-1190. If you're a client of the Indigenous Community Legal Clinic, call the clinic too: 604-822-1311.
- Don't wait for your next hearing. Getting advice early may give your lawyer more options.
What a breach can mean
The conditions in your healing plan usually live inside a court order: bail, probation, or a conditional sentence order.
Breaking a court order is serious. It can be a new criminal charge on its own, and the penalties can include jail. Legal Aid BC puts it plainly: judges view a breach of a court order as a serious matter.
What the court expects
Being willing to follow the sentence and the healing plan is part of taking part in this court.
The process is built to support your progress while holding you accountable. Don't assume this court means a lighter or easier sentence.
Review hearings exist so the judge and Elders can hear how things are going, including the hard parts. If you're struggling right now, the numbers below are answered around the clock.