On July 2, 2025, the Provincial Court of BC published a new notice (NP34) and a revised version of a previous notice (NP33) outlining the procedures for obtaining a mental health status examination by a forensic liaison to assist in the bail process. NP33 (PDF) sets out a revised process for the North, while NP34 (PDF) covers a similar but distinct process newly available in designated court locations in the Island, Interior, and Fraser regions. The directives do not apply in the Vancouver Coastal region as Vancouver already has on-site Forensic Liaisons at 222 Main Street.
The notices are available on the provincial court website, while an FAQ document and related materials have been posted in the “Files” section of the respective Virtual Bail MS Teams channels for each region location (North, Interior, Island, and Fraser) in a new “Forensic Liaison Program” folder. Vancouver does not have a folder because NP33 and NP34 do not apply in the Vancouver Coastal region. We encourage counsel to review the materials applicable to the regions in which you practise so you understand the purpose and scope of this service and the relevant procedures.
