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Crown Counsel are lawyers who work for BC's prosecution service - the Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Attorney General. The courts have described the role of Crown counsel in Canada as a quasi-judicial function and a matter of significant public duty. In our system of justice, when a crime is committed against a victim, it is also a crime against our society as a whole. Therefore, Crown Counsel do not represent individual victims; they perform their function on behalf of the community.

It is Crown Counsel who make the decision whether to approve charges. They review investigation reports from police and other agencies and conduct a charge assessment in relation to offences under the Criminal Code, Youth Criminal Justice Act or under provincial statutes. Crown Counsel conduct bail hearings, prosecute cases and conduct sentencing hearings.