Indigenous Court Worker Program of Manitoba

Court Workers help people who are in conflict with the law. They also work in courts to explain what happens there, and to help the judge and Crown attorney understand the situation of the person on trial.

Court workers help Indigenous people understand what happens when they have been arrested or come before a court. They help you understand your rights and what you have to do.

The court worker program was started to help Indigenous people who come before a court.

The best time is as soon as you have been arrested or summoned to come to court.

Before court begins, court workers read the list of cases that will be heard that day. They look for cases where Indigenous people will appear. The court worker in your court will attempt to seek you out and ask you if you need help, or you may phone your nearest court worker.

Attending court to help people is the main thing court workers do. They can do this in a number of ways.

If your first language is of an Indigenous origin, the court worker will tell you what is going on and what is being said. This will help you understand what the court is doing and also helps the court in dealing with your case.

The court worker will explain the charges against you and why you are in court. He or she will tell you what rights you have under the law – for instance, how to get out on bail. The court worker can tell you where the right courtroom is and help you find resources.

Yes, the court worker cannot give you legal advice, but he or she can:

• give you useful information or refer you to a lawyer or to Legal Aid
• make sure that you understand the situation and how you may have to deal with your problems
• help you if you need a lawyer by helping you fill out papers and sending them to the right people

The court worker will explain to you how important it is for you to attend, and will rarely go in your place. If you have no lawyer and a convincing reason why you cannot attend, the court worker may be able to attend for you. The court worker will need to explain to the court why you can't be there.

He or she will help others in the courtroom. The judge and Crown attorney may ask you, through the court worker, questions about your case. The court worker also helps the court understand you and your circumstances.

Yes. The court worker can ensure that the judge and Crown attorney know your situation  and what has happened since the offence took place.

The court worker will help you to understand what the sentence or court order means, and what you have to do.

Yes. Many Indigenous people ask court workers to explain rules and laws they do not understand about criminal laws, child welfare, fish and game bonds, laws in the city and many other subjects.

A court worker will gladly come to your First Nation or community to give a workshop about the courts. He or she can also bring other people to help explain things that concern you.

Indigenous Court Worker General Line: (204) 945-6204
MBJusticeICWP@gov.mb.ca