View source for If You Receive an Appearance Notice or Summons

===The difference between an appearance notice and a summons===
If someone is not yet charged with a crime, they might be given an '''appearance notice'''.

For example, say a security guard in a store believes a person shoplifted something. The security guard calls the police. The police might give the person an appearance notice requiring them to appear in court to answer to a charge of theft. But there is not yet a criminal charge. A '''prosecutor''' (also called '''Crown counsel''') has to first approve the charge. The person will learn when they get to court whether the charge was in fact approved, or '''laid'''.

A '''summons''' is given to a person once they have been charged with an offence.

Let’s say a person while driving home one night hits a parked car, and just keeps on going. A witness sees them and reports the accident to the police. The police investigate and recommend Crown counsel charge the driver with an offence. The police might have a summons delivered to the driver saying they’ve been charged and when they have to appear in court.