Lawyers in BC can now download DARS recordings of Provincial Court adult criminal proceedings and access some adult criminal court documentation from anywhere!
Practicing lawyers (members of the Law Society of BC) can now access digital versions of informations, records of proceedings, and DARS log notes in Provincial Court adult criminal proceedings. You can even download and print documents, if needed. Most importantly, Counsel of record can also listen to Provincial Court adult criminal audio recordings without ever attending at a Courthouse.
Since March, more than 500 BC lawyers have been using the Access to Court Materials platform (ACM) to see Provincial Court records, including orders, in family cases. The Court Services Branch of the BC government has now expanded this initiative to include access for Criminal lawyers as well.
What does this mean if you are a criminal lawyer?
Practicing lawyers (members of the Law Society of BC) can now access digital versions of informations, records of proceedings, and DARS log notes in Provincial Court adult criminal proceedings. You can even download and print documents, if needed. Most importantly, Counsel of record can also listen to Provincial Court adult criminal audio recordings without ever attending at a Courthouse.
As of now, ACM does not include sealed or in camera hearings, Provincial Court traffic and youth matters, or BC Supreme Court or Court of Appeal records.
How do you get started?
You will need to:
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Use a smart phone to download the BC Wallet App
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Download the BC Services App
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Follow the steps at https://justice.gov.bc.ca/dars/pre-vc-auth/access-requirements/
Then you can login to the Access to Court Materials platform. If you encounter any problems, you can find help in the platform’s FAQs or use the email address provided there.
To learn more, you can also attend an online ACM Learning Lunch on October 11, 2023, from 12:45 to 1:30 PM via MS TEAMS.
Your legal and ethical duties
When you login to the ACM platform, you’ll have to sign an electronic undertaking, including to adhere to the terms of any applicable court access policies. So before using ACM, review undertaking and the access policies to ensure you know the rules. Your use of the ACM program is subject to audit.
Please see this attached link for step-by-step instructions on how to gain access.
