Withdrawn criminal charges in Ontario rise sharply as courts struggle with heavier caseloads
Ontario court data show withdrawn charges in crimes against the person rose from 19,000 to 39,000 over 10 years, driven by heavier caseloads and complex electronic evidence.
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By Torontoer Staff
Ontario court statistics show a sharp rise in criminal charges for crimes against the person being withdrawn before trial. From 2015 to 2025, the number of such charges rose from about 57,000 to 80,000, and withdrawals climbed from roughly 19,000 to 39,000.
The withdrawal rate increased from about 33 per cent in 2015 to 48 per cent in 2025. Prosecutors, opposition politicians and victim advocates say the trends reflect a justice system stretched thin by volume and by much more complex evidence than a decade ago.
What the numbers show
The Ontario Court of Justice published the figures this year. They cover the category of crimes against a person, which includes offences from serious assaults to homicide. The total rise in charges signals more police activity or more charging decisions, while the increase in withdrawals points to growing pressure on Crown counsel and court operations.
- Charges in crimes against a person: about 57,000 (2015) to about 80,000 (2025)
- Charges withdrawn before trial: about 19,000 (2015) to about 39,000 (2025)
- Withdrawal rate: ~33% in 2015, ~48% in 2025
Why cases are being withdrawn more often
Lesley Pasquino of the Ontario Crown Attorney’s Association says Crowns face a heavier docket and more time-consuming evidence. Electronic material such as texts, emails and hours of body or surveillance video multiplies disclosure work and slows case progress.
The pressure has landed on my Crowns to get those cases through the system one way or another, and then to add to that this perfect storm, the advancement of electronic evidence.
Lesley Pasquino, Ontario Crown Attorney’s Association
Pasquino also pointed to a scheduling practice known as stacking, introduced in 2023, in which multiple trials are booked in the same courtroom on the same day. That forces triage of cases and can lead to some matters being withdrawn when they cannot be heard as scheduled.
Political and public safety concerns
NDP justice critic Kristyn Wong-Tam linked the trend to chronic underfunding and warned that dropped charges can leave communities feeling less safe. They framed the issue as one of accountability when charges that could have led to convictions are not tested at trial.
If those individuals have been charged, that meant there was enough evidence to have the possibility of a conviction. But if those charges are dropped or stayed, the province is not going to be safer.
Kristyn Wong-Tam, NDP Justice Critic
The Ministry of the Attorney General says it recognises a risk of lost cases and has targeted investments in prosecution of serious violent offences, gun and gang cases, and auto theft. The ministry company line highlights planned spending, more judges and hundreds of additional staff by 2027-28.
By 2027-2028, Ontario will have invested more than half a billion dollars to help the courts address backlogs and manage a growing number of complex cases.
Julia Facca, press secretary to Attorney General Doug Downey
A neighbourhood case that crystallised the issue
A recent Toronto case drew local attention after charges against a teenager accused of harming a raccoon and killing a cat were withdrawn or dismissed. A judge found that Toronto Police had lost track of photos and witness statements, and dropped remaining charges as a result.
Mildred, the cat at the centre of the case, was found shaved and under a shed. Neighbours provided photo and video evidence, but gaps in the police record prompted the judge to describe the handling as inexcusable. The decision left the cat’s owner and neighbours outraged and prompted a police review of evidence handling.
It’s astounding that no one will be held responsible for Mildred’s treatment. Knowing that there’s no justice? That’s terrible.
Sara Downing, owner of the cat Mildred
Toronto Police have introduced a new evidence handling protocol intended to speed disclosure and announced a review of officer actions in the case. The owner is considering a private autopsy and a submission to the Law Enforcement Complaint Agency.
What experts and officials recommend
Prosecutors and advocacy groups stress that some withdrawals are appropriate when evidence falls short of a conviction, or when negotiated resolutions serve the public interest. Still, they argue that sustained investments are needed in court staffing, digital disclosure systems and case management to avoid preventable losses of prosecutable matters.
- Expand Crown counsel and court support staff to manage growing caseloads
- Invest in digital disclosure tools to handle electronic evidence efficiently
- Review scheduling practices like stacking to reduce unnecessary withdrawals
- Improve police evidence handling and tracking to prevent lost material
The ministry’s planned hiring of judges and nearly 700 additional court staff aims to address some of these gaps, but unions and legal advocates say implementation and sustained funding will determine whether the trend reverses.
The rise in withdrawn charges has practical consequences for victims, accused people and neighbourhoods. It affects confidence in institutions that are supposed to deliver timely justice, and it raises questions about how the province will resource courts to meet modern demands.
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