Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Police Court case files
General material designation
- Textual record
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on content of series.
Level of description
Series
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
Physical description area
Physical description
118 microfilm reels
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Administrative history
Under the 1886 Act of Incorporation, City Council was given authority to establish a Police Court and to appoint a Police Magistrate. The Police Magistrate was given the powers and authority of a Stipendiary Magistrate of the Province, which empowered him to rule on minor breaches of federal and provincial statutes, issue summonses and warrants, conduct release hearings and preliminary hearings for cases destined for higher courts. The Mayor, in addition to his powers as ex-officio Justice of the Peace, was given exclusive jurisdiction to try all cases relating to the bylaws of the city. In 1898 an amendment to the City Charter removed the Mayor's jurisdiction in these cases. The jurisdiction and powers of the Police Court remained relatively unchanged until 1962 when the Magistrates Act replaced the Police Court with a Magistrate's Court; the Police Magistrate and Deputy Magistrates became Magistrates. The former Police Magistrate was to be the administrator of the City Courts. The City was no longer required to provide office space for the Magistrates Court, this responsibility being taken over by the Provincial Government. In 1969, the Magistrate's Court became a Provincial Court of B.C., ending the City's administrative responsibility for the court.
Related Resources:
Board of Police Commissioners fonds; Police Department fonds.
Custodial history
Scope and content
Series consists of case files containing working documents arising from cases heard before the Vancouver Police Court. The contents of each file vary depending on the nature of the case. Most files contain a "Form of Information or Complaint of Oath" which records the dates of the offense and trial, name of the accused, nature of the offense, and the verdict. For thefts, further details of the crime are given. For appeals, files contain other documents such as the Conviction Sheet, Certificate of Conviction, City Police Department report, Warrant of Commitment, in addition to appeal documents such as Notice of Appeal. In some appeal cases, trial transcripts were generated and are included in the file. Arranged by date of hearing and case file number.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
The original case files were transferred from the City of Vancouver Archives to the B.C. Ministry of the Attorney General in 1980. The files were microfilmed for the Archives in 1984 and 1986. Gaps in the microfilmed case files are as follows: 69081, 18751-19500.
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Access to these records is restricted for 100 years from creation date, or 20 years after the death of relevant individuals, due to FOIPPA legislation. Records contain highly sensitive personal information about identifiable individuals. Researchers wanting access to this microfilm must complete an 'Access to restricted records' form and will be required to submit further information about the nature and purpose of their research. See archivist for details.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
File list available.
Associated materials
Case file numbers correspond with numbers found in 'Presiding Magistrate’ column in Police Court court calendars of indictable offences (Series 184).
Accruals
General note
Researchers are advised that the Criminal Records Act allows pardoned offenders to have their criminal records sealed and removed from the public domain: any identification of offenders will require checking with the Minister of Justice, Ottawa.