Is Breaking And Entering A Felony In Canada?
A “felony” is a classification of crime in the United States. In Canada, there are three classifications of crime:
- Summary Conviction Offences: The least serious offences, such as minor theft or mischief.
- Indictable Offences: More serious crimes, such as murder or aggravated assault.
- Hybrid Offences: These allow the Crown to choose how to proceed—either by summary conviction or indictment—depending on the specific facts and circumstances of the case.
If the premise in question is a “dwelling house,” the offence is classified as a straight indictable offence. If it is not a dwelling house, the offence becomes a hybrid offence, giving the Crown discretion to proceed by summary conviction or indictment.
