If you have been accused of a crime, you may not be fully aware of the legal process and what exactly you will be facing. Ottawa has a number of qualified attorneys who can listen to your concerns and give you advice on the proper steps to take. It will be helpful to know exactly what you are being charged with, and what the punishment could be. You should be sure to find out about your legal rights, so that you do not end up with a higher sentence than you deserve.
Again, it will be best to consult a lawyer. In the meantime, you can find a few general facts below. Although there are always extenuating circumstances that can make everyone’s situation different, and law in Ottawa are not all the same as laws in other areas, you are definitely entitled to certain rights laid out in The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, in the Canadian Constitution.
Some of the rights guaranteed in the charter are:
Section 7
The right to life, liberty, and security of the person.
Section 8
The right to be secure against unreasonable search and seizure.
Section 9
The right not to be arbitrarily arrested.
Section 10
The right to know why you’re arrested, to get a lawyer immediately and to be told that you have that right.
Section 11
Rights if you’re charged with an offence, including:
- the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty;
- the right not to be a witness against yourself;
- the right to a trial within a reasonable time;
- the right to be informed without unreasonable delay of the specific offence you are charged with;
- the right to reasonable bail unless there is just cause (a good reason) to deny it; and
- the right to trial by jury if an offence can be punished with imprisonment for five years or more.
Section 12
The right not to be subject to cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.
Section 13
Protection against the use of your own testimony to prosecute you (the right against self-incrimination).
Section 14
The right to an interpreter in a court proceeding.
