Charges, bail hearing, plea bargaining, probation, trial.
ALEXANDER STEWART
Criminal Law
Any interaction with the criminal law system is scary and overwhelming. Get help early and get started on coming to terms with the seriousness of your circumstances in order to give yourself the best chance of resolving the matter in a way that lets you move on with your life.
Charges
Understanding the charges that have been set down against you is the first step in this process. In general, the RCMP will submit an evidence report to Crown Counsel, who will approve or deny certain charges. The seriousness of the charges against you will determine what happens next.
Bail Hearing
If you are being held in custody, a bail hearing will be scheduled and you will be required to appear in court before a judge. The terms of the bail hearing will be set by the judge.
Plea Bargaining
If you have been charged with a serious offence, then it may be possible for our lawyers to negotiate a guilty plea on a lesser charge instead of risking judgement at trial.
Probation
The most common term of a criminal sentence is probation. This means that you have either plead, or been found, guilty of a criminal offence and the court has assigned certain conditions on your behaviour. Examples of probationary conditions include a prohibition on consuming alcohol, driving or a vicinity prohibition to certain places or people.
Trial
If you have been truly wrongfully accused, it may be necessary for your matter to proceed to a trial in order to preserve your liberty. This is a very stressful and time-consuming process that requires careful navigation. It is highly recommended that you retain legal counsel to represent you any time you are facing a trial.
