Charged with a Criminal Offence?
If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offence, Here’s What to Do Next
Facing criminal charges from the police or RCMP, or learning that you may be under investigation, can be stressful and overwhelming. You may be worried about your freedom, your family, your employment, or what the allegations could mean for your future.
The decisions you make at the beginning of the case can affect what happens next. Getting legal advice early can help protect your rights, clarify your release conditions, and give you a better understanding of the legal process ahead.
What Should You Do First?
If you have been charged or contacted by the police:
Speak with a criminal defence lawyer before giving a statement.
Even if you feel that you can explain what happened, anything you say may affect the case. Getting legal advice first can help you understand your rights and avoid making decisions without knowing the potential consequences.
Keep all police, release, and court documents.
Save any paperwork you receive, including appearance notices, undertakings, release orders, court dates, and information about your charges. These documents will help your lawyer understand the situation and identify any immediate deadlines or concerns.
Pay close attention to your court dates and release conditions.
Missing a required court appearance or failing to follow a condition can create additional legal problems. If any part of your paperwork is unclear, ask a lawyer to review it with you.
Do not contact anyone you have been ordered not to contact.
This includes direct contact, messages, social media communication, or asking someone else to pass along a message. Even well-intentioned contact may result in a breach charge.
Avoid discussing the case publicly or posting about it online.
Comments made to friends, coworkers, family members, or on social media may become relevant to the case. It is safer to discuss the details only with your lawyer.
Keep any messages, photos, videos, emails, or other information that may be relevant.
Do not delete or alter records connected to the situation. These materials may help your lawyer understand the context, assess the evidence, or identify information that may support your defence.
Following your release conditions carefully is important. A breach can result in additional charges and may make your case more difficult.
What Happens After You Contact a Lawyer?
The first step is understanding what you have been charged with, what immediate concerns need to be addressed, and what documents or upcoming dates apply to your case.
Depending on the case, this may include:
Reviewing your police and court documents
Explaining your release conditions
Requesting and reviewing disclosure
Assessing the evidence
Identifying legal, factual, procedural, or Charter issues
Communicating with the Crown
Preparing for resolution discussions or trial
Sutherland Criminal Defence can review the situation with you, explain the legal process that applies to your case, and help you understand the options that may be available.
