In Ontario, legislation prohibits individuals convicted of certain serious crimes from making money by selling their story.  The Prohibiting Profiting from Recounting Crimes Act, 2002, provides that the court has the power to seize any proceeds convicted criminals get from recounting their crimes.  In addition, the Court may levy fines against the person.  Any money seized is put into funds for the victims of crime.

The Act applies to:

(a) anyone convicted of a serious violent crime or serious property crime designated under the Act;

(b) anyone acting on behalf of a criminal (such as a spouse or relative);

(c) a corporation in which the convicted person has a substantial interest;

Offences covered by the Act include:

(a) sexual assault with or without a weapon; 

(b) attempted sexual assault with or without a weapon;

(c) aggravated sexual assault;

(d) all violent indictable offences under the Criminal Code that have a sentence of 5 years or  more; and

(e) a serious property offence under the Criminal Code.