You deserve to be treated with dignity and respect by all people working within the justice system. Formal complaint processes exist for police, lawyers and judges. Learn more by reading below.
Making a Complaint about the Police
Do you feel you have been mistreated by a member of the police? Unsure if you have a complaint? There are two main complaint bodies in BC, one for the RCMP and one for municipal police forces.
RCMP
The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP is an independent agency that reviews complaints made by the public about the on-duty conduct of RCMP members. The Commission is not part of the RCMP.
Municipal Police Forces
The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) oversees the handling of complaints involving 14 municipal police departments.
Making a Complaint about a Lawyer in BC
If you have concerns about a lawyer, you may file a complaint. The Law Society reviews all complaints they receive. You can learn more about the complaints process, the kinds of complaints the Law Society is authorized to investigate and the limits of what the Law Society can do at the Law Society Complaints webpage.
Making a Complaint about a Judge in BC
You can make a formal complaint about a provincial court judge or justice (including a judicial justice, judicial case manager and justice of the peace) if you believe their conduct is improper. The Provincial Court Act sets out the process to be followed – both by a person making a complaint and by the Court’s chief judge who receives the complaint.
Making a Complaint about us
BCFNJC considers all submitted complaints received in a fair and respectful manner, honouring the privacy of all parties, and seeks to address the submission in a timely manner.
If you’ve been affected by or are unhappy with any of our services, you have the right to make a formal complaint with us. You may be currently accessing our services, or someone who has received them in the past, a lawyer, or a member of a community or public in British Columbia.
Please ensure the following is followed upon submitting your complaint:
- Provide details clearly stating the problem you’ve experienced.
- Provide us with details of the solution you want.
- Provide all relevant information that you both have and know about up front with your complaint submission.
- Include any relevant supporting documents that support and clarify your complaint.
Please submit your complaints via email, fax, or written letter using the information below.
ATTN: Complaints
BC First Nations Justice Council
Fax: 778.940.1520
Email: [email protected]
Address: 303-1979 Old Okanagan Hwy Westbank, BC V4T 3A4
