According to Express Pardons, in Canada, criminal offences are brought against you either summarily, or by indictment. Summary offences are minor, and indictable offences are more serious. Some crimes in the Canadian criminal code are automatically indictable, and others are automatically summary; however, most charges fall under the hybrid category. Hybrid offences are those where the Crown can elect to proceed by summary or by indictment, depending on the circumstances of the specific case.
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