Resources

If you have been charged, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Your arrest starts the criminal trial process, which has several components.

Legal mechanisms for pre-trial release in Canada: recognizance and undertaking.

If the Crown decides it is not in the public interest to prosecute through the regular court process, they can suggest alternative measures.

The Legal Aid Program provides economically disadvantaged persons with funding for legal services.

To aid people in gathering and presenting information to the court, the Code includes dozens of standardized forms.

An overview of the role and regulation of paralegals in the Canadian justice system, highlighting their duties and the varying regulations across different provinces and territories.

All three parts of Parliament play key roles in the formation of criminal law in Canada.

If a statement is made, it should be truthful, accurate, and reviewed with legal representation, as even information supporting innocence could be used to prove guilt.

Pardons are now called record suspensions and are not permanent. A criminal record can profoundly impact your future.

The 14 law societies in Canada regulate the work of lawyers and paralegals in their province or territory.

A judge has different options when it comes to handing down a punishment, and the sentence should match the offender's degree of responsibility.

A stay of proceedings is when a trial is stopped temporarily by the Crown attorney or ended by a judge.

A criminal court jury is made up of 12 Canadian citizens over 18 and sworn to give a verdict based on the evidence submitted in court.

When the federal government makes changes to the Code, it creates an amending act or regulation.

An appeal is not a new trial, nor is it automatic. The defendant and the Crown have the right to appeal and typically have 30 days to file notice.

The CDSA is a federal law in Canada that regulates the possession, production, distribution, and sale of controlled substances to protect public health and safety.

A law codifying most criminal offences and continuously updated to reflect changing societal values.

The Firearms Act promotes gun safety and aims to reduce crime by regulating firearm possession, storage, and use through licensing and registration requirements.

Criminal Records: who sees them, discharges, and US travel