I’ve been arrested. Now what?

You were given a Promise to Appear notice by the police.  This sheet has

  • the court date
  • the fingerprint date
  • the police file number (top corner on the right side)
  • other information

 Step 1: The Crown Prosecution office reviews your file which may take more than three weeks. You may qualify for the Sex Trade Offender Program (STOP), an Adult Alternative Measures Program (AMP).

  • To be eligible, you must not have a prior charge for either (S. 286.1.1 Criminal Code) or the old prostitution charge, S. 213(1)(c) Criminal Code
  • You may phone 780-427-4085 about two days before their court date to see if you have been approved for the program

Step 2: Go to the Edmonton Police Service Headquarters (9620 103A Avenue, Edmonton AB) to be fingerprinted and photographed on the date provided on your Promise to Appear.

Step 3: Go to the Case Management Office (CMO) at the court house (1A Sir Winston Churchill Square) on the date given to you at the time of arrest on your Promise to Appear. You do not appear before a Judge in a court room. You MUST fill out an address confirmation form so the Crown Prosecution office has the correct contact information for you.

Step 4: Give your name to the staff person who will check your file online. If you are eligible for the Sex Trade Offender Program (STOP), you will be referred to the Probation Officer.

Step 5: Meet with the Probation Officer to be approved for the STOP.

The Probation Officer will contact you to schedule an appointment using the address, phone number, or email address you provide to CMO at the courthouse.

For inquiries about the status of your file, you may call 780.427.4712.

Step 6: Attend the Sex Trade Offender Program, an 8-hour program on a Saturday. Be there before 8:00 AM to register. Program ends at 4:30 PM. Underground parking is $10 for the day, unless there is an event at Rogers Place.

If you cannot attend the STOP for the date you are given, you must phone the Probation Officer first to reschedule. If you do not call and do not attend, a warrant for your arrest will be issued. If you are arrested again for this offence you will not be eligible for STOP a second time. You will go to court and if convicted will have a criminal record in addition to a fine.

What does it mean to have a criminal record?
Read this information from the John Howard Society and the Canadian Bar Association.
http://johnhoward.ca/blog/lifetime-effects-criminal-record/

There are at least two benefits of attending the Sex Trade Offender Program (STOP):

  • Your charge is withdrawn and you will not have a criminal record.
  • You will learn how your actions affect yourself, your family and friends, your work and the women and men in the sex trade who are exploited or are victims of human trafficking.