Release of names following criminal charges

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is committed to transparency while also respecting the legal rights, personal safety, and privacy of all individuals involved in the criminal justice process. The decision to release the name of a person who has been charged is not automatic — it is assessed on a case-by-case basis and informed by investigative judgment, legal requirements, community expectations, and potential impacts on those affected.

Under legislated parameters, the OPS does not routinely release the names of individuals who have been charged. When a decision is made to release or withhold a name, it is guided by a number of legal, ethical, and operational considerations, including:

• Severity of the Incident and Community Impact: More serious or high-impact events may warrant greater transparency due to their significance to public safety and trust.
• Public Interest and Community Expectations: The extent to which disclosure serves the broader public interest or aligns with the community’s expectation for transparency and accountability.
• Legislative or Policy Requirements: Privacy protections under various laws — including the Youth Criminal Justice Act, privacy legislation, and provisions protecting survivors of intimate partner or sexual violence — may prohibit or strongly limit disclosure. The Community Safety and Policing Act and O. Reg. 412/23: Disclosure of Personal Information also govern what personal information police may release and under what circumstances.
• Potential to Assist an Ongoing Investigation: In some cases, naming an individual may encourage witnesses to come forward, generate new leads, or otherwise support investigative outcomes.
• Mental Health Considerations: When mental health is a contributing factor, disclosure may exacerbate the individual’s condition and contribute to stigma.
• Integrity of Investigations or Court Proceedings: Premature disclosure may compromise an active investigation or impact the fairness of future court proceedings.
• Impact on Families: Public naming can have unintended effects on relatives — including children or other vulnerable individuals — who are not involved in the alleged offence.
• Personal Safety Risks: In some cases, naming an individual may increase their risk of harm, retaliation, or public harassment.

In addition to these case-by-case assessments, OPS has a policy to remove all media releases that name individuals who have been charged after 60 days. This reflects the fact that police do not control or track the full course of court proceedings. Charges may be amended, added, dropped, or otherwise changed as cases progress, and we believe it is inappropriate to indefinitely publish information that may no longer reflect the facts.

We continue to monitor and review the practices of other police services across Ontario and Canada to ensure our policies remain consistent with evolving legal standards, public expectations and professional best practices.

OPS is committed to balancing the public’s right to know with the rights of the accused, and we strive to make principled decisions that support both transparency and justice. We recognize that this is a complex and evolving area, and we welcome public dialogue and scrutiny as part of our accountability to the communities we serve.

For members of the public or media seeking further details on charges or court appearances, the Ontario Court of Justice Public Access Portal offers a direct source of verified court information.