If you’ve been arrested, your biggest fear (aside from the possibility of a criminal record) is the prospect of remaining in custody. In Alberta, you have the right to a release hearing within 24 hours, but what if you have concerns about making bail? If you aren’t successful, do you have to stay detained until … Read More.
Interacting with police can be very intimidating and is a stressful experience for most people, but it is important to remember the constitution protects individual from state actions (i.e. a police investigation). There are certain rights that are specified in the Charter of Rights and Freedom that apply if you are detained by police. When … Read More.
In Canadian criminal law, there is no universal statute of limitations, as people usually imagine it. That is, there is no specific piece of legislation preventing the police from charging someone with all offences after a specified amount of time has passed. In general, someone can be charged years after the alleged crime took place. … Read More.
Television legal dramas are quite popular and can be very entertaining. Many of these dramas are American and can create misconceptions about the criminal] justice system in Canada. In legal dramas, the timeline of the story is highly compressed. The time of the offense to the triumphant conclusion must fit within an hour television slot. … Read More.
Canada and the United States are similar in many ways. One such similarity can be found within our criminal justice systems, which both have their roots in the English common law system. However, there are many notable differences. In Canada, the criminal law is controlled by the federal government in Ottawa. The Canadian Criminal Code … Read More.
Update April 2021: The AALS Program has been discontinued as of November 30, 2020 and has been replaced by the Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) Program of IRS: FAIL.Any occurrences that occur on or after December 1, 2020 will now be administered under the IRS: FAIL Program. Learn more about this program via the Alberta government. … Read More.
Cannabis became legal in Canada on October 17, 2018 with the introduction of the Cannabis Act. The Cannabis Act decriminalized cannabis to reduce the strain on the criminal justice system and allow for the legal sale of cannabis while keeping it out of the hands of youth, much like tobacco and alcohol products. There were … Read More.
Being charged with a criminal offence can be very stressful for many Canadians, and it is not an experience that most would like to repeat. It can be intimidating to navigate the criminal justice system on your own. A criminal lawyer can help by representing you throughout the process. If you have never interacted with … Read More.
Facing a disciplinary hearing can be a frustrating experience. The process can be damaging to your reputation and threaten your livelihood. As such, it is important to be thoroughly prepared. Disciplinary hearing vs. criminal proceeding There are several differences between a disciplinary hearing and a criminal proceeding, most notably disciplinary hearings may not be subject … Read More.
Interacting with police is usually the first stage of the criminal justice system and can be very intimidating for many Canadians. Police have the authority to maintain order and protect society, but that authority must be executed within the law. As such, Canadians have rights which police are obligated to respect. Your rights when speaking … Read More.