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Criminal defence lawyers say that making verbal threats can result in criminal charges, depending on the context and severity of the threat. But can you go to jail for a verbal threat? The answer, as it turns out, is complicated. In Canada, the law relating to threats is found in the Criminal Code of Canada at section 264.1. […]

Ontario’s youth justice system operates separately from the adult system. When someone between the ages of 12 and 17 is charged with a criminal offence, police must follow the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). The YCJA focuses on improving outcomes, taking responsibility, and reducing the likelihood of reoffending. The focus is less on consequences, and

Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPA), also known as Remediation Agreements, are nothing new in the legal world, but they are new to Canada. They have been used successfully in the United Kingdom and United States of America for years but only came into effect in the Canadian Criminal Code in September 2018. How to acquire a

According to the Innocence Project, 69% of wrongful convictions exonerated by DNA were the result of mistaken identity. Eyewitness accounts tend to weigh heavily in court, so criminal defence lawyers use the mistaken identity defence to discredit these accounts as soon as possible. They may attempt to question the witness’ memory and perception of the event.

WHAT IS A LIFE SENTENCE IN CANADA? What is a life sentence in Canada? A life sentence in Canada is 25 years in jail, to be served in a federal institution, and the remainder of the offender’s life will be spent on parole. A life sentence is also the maximum penalty under the Canadian Criminal Code.

Concerns over eyewitness testimony are nothing new in criminal trials. Studies have been showing significant concern over their accuracy, all the way back to the 1960s. Yet now, over half a century later, eyewitness testimony continues to play a major role in criminal trials. In fact, concerns about the reliability of eyewitness testimony were almost

Accepting to enter into a Peace Bond is not an admission of guilt. It is not an admissible of criminal liability or of civil liability. There is no criminal conviction registered on a criminal record and there is no finding of guilty, but there is an acknowledgement that the victim may have a concern for

You’re relaxing in your home when you receive a call from the police. The officer on the line informs you that the police want to interview you for a criminal investigation, that they want to ask a few questions, or maybe even tell you that they want your side of the story. Regardless of how

Mandatory minimum sentences control judicial discretion. This is supposed to help reduce certain crimes by sending a message to the public that these offences will not be tolerated, and they will be punished severely. In Canada, some sexual offences have mandatory minimums. For instance, sexual assault with a victim under 16-years old has a 1-year