Now seems like a good time to discuss police reform. After almost 30 years in the criminal justice system, as an Assistant Crown Attorney and Defence Counsel, I have a few suggestions.
The police are supposed to serve and protect us. […]
As I suggested in my previous blog, never plead guilty to careless driving (unless pleading down from a Criminal Code offence). Although a conviction for careless driving is not a criminal record, it does carry serious penalties. More importantly, the case law […]
Under section 11(e) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, any person charged with an offence has the right “not to be denied reasonable bail without just cause”. Once a person has been arrested and charged, the police can either release him from the police station […]
Let me repeat what I said in an earlier blog. In criminal court, a guilty plea is generally given greater weight the earlier it is entered into. There are three reasons for that. First, an early plea shows remorse – an indication that the accused is on […]
Every police car is equipped with a computerized mobile workstation (“MWS”), aka mobile data terminal (“MDT”). In seconds, police can learn a great deal about you without stopping you. How? By entering your plate in their MWS. If you have […]
I don’t practice in traffic court very much anymore, mostly because the penalties at stake for defendants don’t justify the legal fees. As a former Assistant Crown Attorney, I once did a six-month stint prosecuting traffic court. The procedure hasn’t changed much since then.
In criminal court, a guilty plea is generally given greater weight the […]
There is no absolute right to silence in Canada. For example, if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident in Ontario, you may be required to provide details to the investigating officer. If you are charged for professional misconduct, you may […]