Summary

• Five years after its launch, virtual bail is helping B.C.’s court system operate more efficiently
• Virtual bail hearings reduce the need to move people long distances, lowering costs for police and communities
• The program allows judges, lawyers and court staff to participate in hearings across multiple communities in a single day, reducing delays and making better use of resources

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Five years after virtual bail hearings began as a pilot project in northern B.C., they are now used throughout the province, helping courts operate more efficiently and adapt to increasing demands on the justice system.

“Virtual bail is changing how our courts operate,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. “By allowing judges, lawyers and court staff to participate in hearings across multiple communities in a single day, we are reducing delays and making better use of resources. This is part of our work to build a more efficient justice system that can adapt to increasing demands and continue building timely justice across B.C.”

Before virtual bail, people arrested in an area far from a courthouse had to be transported there in custody, requiring significant sheriff and police resources, adding cost and delay, and disrupting court schedules. Virtual bail reduces the need for most transports. Instead, the accused appears by video from a police detachment or correctional centre, while judges, lawyers and court staff can participate from their location.

Virtual bail throughout B.C.

The program began in 2021 as a Provincial Court of British Columbia pilot project in northern B.C., where distances between communities and courthouses are greatest. It built on weekend and statutory holiday virtual bail hearings that had been in place since 2019. In 2023, the program expanded to the Fraser region, completing its rollout throughout the province. Today, most bail hearings utilize technology to facilitate remote attendance.

Dedicated virtual bail courtrooms, where participants appear by video, serve the North, the Interior and Vancouver Island. Hybrid courtrooms in the Lower Mainland combine video and in-person attendance, and lawyers can submit bail documents electronically.

By allowing participants to join remotely, virtual bail enables judges, court staff and lawyers to participate in cases in multiple communities without travelling. This improves scheduling flexibility, reduces delays tied to transportation and allows the court system to better manage rising demand. It also ensures the system can adapt more effectively to external pressures, including legislative changes and increasing case volumes.

What virtual bail means for B.C.’s courts, communities

Virtual bail reduces the need to transport people in custody, lowering costs and freeing up sheriff and police resources:

• enabling judges, court staff and counsel to participate across jurisdictions in a single day, improving scheduling efficiency
• helping court days run on time and reducing disruptions to trials in smaller communities
• improving access to timely bail hearing, particularly in remote and northern communities

The Province’s Court Services Branch, which manages courtroom administration, operates and maintains the technology that enables virtual appearances.

Virtual bail is part of ongoing efforts to modernize court services in B.C., helping the justice system operate more efficiently and remain responsive to changing demands. It complements other initiatives, including expanded virtual options in B.C. Supreme Court civil and family cases, as well as the Virtual Counter service.

Quick Facts:

• There are 112 virtual bail video units installed and operating in RCMP detachments and municipal police departments throughout B.C.
• Six dedicated virtual bail courtrooms, where all participants appear by video, operate provincewide: two each on Vancouver Island, in the Interior and in the North.
• Six hybrid courtrooms in the Lower Mainland allow a mix of video and in-person attendance.

Learn More:

• To read the Provincial Court of British Columbia’s practice direction on virtual bail hearings, visit: https://provincialcourt.bc.ca/system/files/CRIM-05.pdf
• To read the December 2023 announcement of the provincewide expansion of virtual bail, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023AG0073-001989
• Information on courthouse services in B.C.: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/courthouse-services