Getting arrested and charged with a criminal offense can be terrifying, perplexing, and place you in a foreign scenario that you do not know how to handle because you will not know what to do. If this kind of thing takes place for you, the first thing to remember is that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms affords you important protections and rights.
You have the right to be represented by a criminal lawyer under Section 10 of the Charter, and you have the right to be quiet and refuse to answer any questions under Sections 7 and 11(c) of the Charter. Never give up your right to an attorney, and you should not offer information to the authorities.
- Repercussions of a Conviction
Depending on the charges, you can be subject to pre-trial detention in jail or be required to post bail to be released. This indicates a possible disturbance in the following days and weeks. You will have to adhere to several obligatory requirements if you are required to post bail to restore your freedom before trial, which may cause additional inconvenience. Curfews, bans on drinking alcohol, and limitations on where you can go and who you may see are just a few examples of these.
The legal repercussions might further devastate your life if you are found guilty and sentenced to prison for the criminal charges. Financial penalties will harm your finances, and your freedom will be in jeopardy if you receive a prison or jail term sentence. Even a probationary sentence disrupts your life, and all courts can impose additional limitations and sanctions on you that will negatively impact you.
- Tactics Based on Charges
Skilled attorneys rely on defence strategies developed especially to answer individual allegations. Even though presenting a defence against all criminal accusations is identical, the strategy may vary based on the claimed offense. For instance, bringing up “self-defence” as a point of contention in an assault case while opposing “possession” as a point of contention in a narcotics case.
- Understanding the Bail Process
The least restrictive pretrial release terms are one of the first things your criminal lawyer may arrange, if necessary. The Judicial Interim Release procedure can be challenging, and attempting to get pretrial release without counsel may result in a negative bail decision. A favourable result signifies a promising beginning for criminal defence efforts and makes planning defence strategies easier for you and your attorney.
- Why You Need a Criminal Lawyer
To assist you in negotiating the complexity of criminal law and lessen its impact on your life, your criminal defence attorney acts as your guide. More significantly, your attorney’s job is to assist you in avoiding charges or, at the least, obtaining the best result.
Regardless of the criminal charge(s), knowledgeable attorneys thoroughly review all aspects of the case to plan successful defence strategies that can result in dismissals, acquittals, charges being dropped, reduced charges, or reduced fines. Your criminal defence attorney may employ various defence tactics depending on the allegations and other pertinent circumstances.