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Charges · Robbery · Ontario

What happens after a robbery charge in Ontario?

What it means, what usually happens next, and what to bring to the first call.

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By Ali Sheikh, Remandly (founder, not a lawyer) · Published under a standard reviewed by an Ontario-licensed criminal lawyer, called to the bar in 2017.

Last reviewed September 22, 2026 · Updated October 15, 2026

In short

  • Robbery can only go by indictment, and robbery with a firearm carries mandatory minimum sentences.
  • In Ontario, adult robbery cases start in the Ontario Court of Justice, and for youth the Crown lists robbery as never eligible for extrajudicial sanctions.
  • The person is usually held for a bail hearing.

What usually happens next

  1. Step 1

    Arrest and the station You have the right to talk to a lawyer in private. You do not have to answer police questions.

  2. Step 2

    Police decide Police can release you with conditions and a court date, or hold you for a bail hearing.

What should you bring to the first call?

How it works in Ontario

Which court hears it in Ontario

An Ontario robbery charge starts in the Ontario Court of Justice, whose Toronto criminal court at 10 Armoury Street began operations in 2023. The court says about 95% of charges that start there also finish there.

Bail in Ontario

If a robbery arrest in Ontario leads to a bail hearing, Ontario’s D. 24 says each rung of release is considered before a stricter one and that the amount promised must be within the means of the accused and any surety.

Programs and diversion in Ontario

For youth, Ontario’s Crown manual lists robbery as never eligible for extrajudicial sanctions. Ontario’s Gladue (Indigenous Peoples’) Courts focus on sentencing, and in some places bail.

The local process in Ontario

Ontario’s Victim/Witness Assistance Program serves victims and witnesses in all 54 court districts. Legal Aid Ontario duty counsel can represent the accused at the bail hearing, for that day only.

What do people ask about robbery charges?

Do I have to talk to the police?

No - a person does not have to answer police questions, and anyone arrested or detained has the right to speak to a lawyer, and police must tell them that.

What is the maximum penalty for robbery?

Under s. 344 of the Criminal Code, robbery is an indictable offence with a maximum of life imprisonment. Where a firearm is used there are minimum sentences: five years for a first offence and seven for a second or later one.

Sources

Federal law sources

Free 24/7 criminal law information · not legal advice. Legal Aid Ontario: 1-800-668-8258

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