Oshawa Criminal Court: Durham Region Courthouse, 150 Bond Street East

Durham Region criminal cases are heard at the Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel S. Sharpe, DSO, MP Courthouse in downtown Oshawa, commonly known simply as the Oshawa courthouse. The details below will help you prepare for your appearance.

At a glance

• Address: Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel S. Sharpe, DSO, MP Courthouse, 150 Bond Street East, Oshawa, ON L1G 0A2

• Courthouse phone: 905-743-2800 (Ontario government listing). The court’s own page lists 905-743-2640.

• Email: Durham.OCJ.courts@ontario.ca

• Counter hours: Monday to Friday, 9 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.

• Legal Aid duty counsel (Oshawa): 905-728-3801

Getting there

The courthouse is on Bond Street East in downtown Oshawa. Durham Region Transit (DRT) buses serve the downtown core. Expect security screening on entry.

Parking

A parking lot adjoins the courthouse, and municipal lots are close by; fees may apply.

Your first court date

Your first court date, termed a “first appearance,” is not a trial. It proceeds in a “case management court,” where the court reviews where each case stands and assigns new dates. Attendance in person or by Zoom is usually permitted, unless a judge or justice of the peace directs otherwise. The court prefers video, but you may also join by phone using the details on your release papers.

Bail in Oshawa

Bail hearings for Durham Region take place at this courthouse. An accused who is in custody usually appears by video from the police station or jail. Sureties, who promise the court to supervise the accused, can attend in person or by video unless the court directs otherwise. Video links for bail court are not published on the court’s public page; the lawyer or duty counsel (free Legal Aid lawyers at the courthouse) provides them to sureties. Stephanie Heyens’ bail page explains each stage in more depth.

Official Zoom details: Oshawa criminal courts

• Courtroom 108 – What it is used for: Adult case management – people without a lawyer (weekdays), Meeting ID: 696 9831 4908, Passcode: 813499

• Courtroom V108 / V102 – What it is used for: Adult case management – people with a lawyer (weekdays), Meeting ID: 696 2656 6709, Passcode: 185058

• Courtroom 101 – What it is used for: Youth court (Tuesdays), Meeting ID: 633 4503 1777, Passcode: 115742

• Courtroom Bail courts – What it is used for: Bail hearings, Meeting ID: Not published, Passcode: Not published

The Ontario Court of Justice publishes these video details, and they are subject to change. Before joining, confirm them against your release papers or the court’s own page. To connect, go to zoom.us/join and enter the meeting ID and passcode; no Zoom account is required. To join by phone, call 1-855-703-8985 (toll-free) and enter the same meeting ID and passcode.

What to bring

• Your release papers or court notice

• Government photo ID

• Any letters from police, the court or the Crown (the prosecutor’s office)

• Pen and paper for notes, along with your questions

• Glasses, medication or other essentials for a long day

What to expect on the day

On arrival, check the court list for your courtroom. Some waiting is likely. Switch your phone to silent and dress neatly. When your name is called, proceed to the front, or unmute if you are attending on Zoom. If you are not represented by a lawyer, Legal Aid duty counsel may be able to assist.

Traffic tickets and other provincial offences (non-criminal charges under Ontario law) in Durham are often dealt with in Whitby rather than at this courthouse; your ticket will show the correct location.

Stephanie appears here regularly

The Oshawa courthouse is among the courts where Stephanie regularly appears. She has spent over 25 years defending criminal charges in Ontario, both with Legal Aid Ontario and in her own practice.

Talk to Stephanie. If you have a court date in Oshawa, Stephanie can explain what to expect. Call her at 416-684-4322 or email stephanie@stephanieheyens.ca.