Legal and Penal Information

Conditional sentences: recent changes in the Criminal Code First introduced in 1996, conditional sentences, which are similar to parole or “house arrest,” allow people convicted of a crime to [...]

Can you defend yourself without a lawyer? As envisaged in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, in criminal law, any person accused of a crime has the right to representation by an [...]

Sexting and child pornography: What the law says The consequences of sexting often come as a surprise, especially to adolescents, many of whom are either misinformed or completely unaware of the [...]

Choosing the best criminal lawyer If you’ve been charged with a criminal offense, it’s only natural to feel shaken. Especially since this isn’t the sort of situation most people find themselves [...]

Reckless driving: what the Criminal Code says Depending on whether you consult the Criminal Code or the Highway Safety Code, dangerous operation (commonly called “reckless driving”) has a [...]

What is criminal negligence? For the uninitiated, crimes can be broken down into two types: those that are premeditated and those that aren’t. However, much of the time, there’s a question of [...]

Consequences of a violation of the conditions of release In general, the law favors the release of anyone accused of an offense while his or her court appearance is pending, but only if there’s [...]

The difference between absolute and conditional discharges When you’re accused of a crime, you may be found guilty or not guilty. These are the most common outcomes. However, between these two [...]

Possible sentences for shoplifting and robbery In Quebec, the Criminal Code establishes several specific types of theft. In a legal sense, theft means voluntarily taking something that belongs to [...]

How does a record suspension application work in a case of drunk driving? Were you or a loved one convicted of driving with impaired faculties? In addition to the emotional consequences and the [...]

Spousal assault: what the Criminal Code establishes In Quebec, cases of domestic violence are so numerous that certain courtrooms and crown prosecutors are exclusively devoted to handling these [...]

What the law says about cannabis possession and cultivation On October 17, 2018, Canada legalized the consumption of cannabis. The objectives? As formulated by the government at that time, [...]

Driving under the influence of drugs: what you should know Although most people know that driving doesn’t mix well with drugs and alcohol, driving under the influence is nevertheless common [...]

The right to counsel of one’s choosing and the consequences of failure to enforce that right in cases of faculties impaired by alcohol or drugs (Article 10 (b) of the Canadian Charter) When [...]

The role of a defense attorney What exactly do we know about the role of a defense attorney? Aside from the clichés perpetrated by television shows, we must admit that our vision of the [...]

Drunk driving: should you hire a lawyer? Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after having consumed alcohol could prove to be dangerous for you, your passengers and other drivers on the road. [...]

Leaving the scene of an accident: why contact a lawyer? Do you drive on-road vehicles or RVs? Do you drive regularly or only occasionally? Did you only recently get your driver’s license or do [...]

Am I eligible for legal aid for the services of a lawyer? Do you need legal advice or do you want to exercise your rights but lack the means to pay for a lawyer? You may be eligible for legal [...]

What the law says about self-defence Have you been accused of assault? Were you perhaps countering an attack? If so, it’s important to find out if you could plead self-defence in your case. [...]

Reasonable excuses for refusing to take a breathalyzer test As I explained in my previous blog entry on the offense of refusing to submit to a breathalyzer test, it’s up to the Crown to prove [...]

Is the refusal to take a breathalyzer test a criminal offense? While you’re at the wheel of your vehicle or simply inside it, a peace officer stops you and asks you to submit to a breath alcohol [...]

What to do when accused of defrauding your employer Did you know that defrauding an employer is a felony in the sense that it carries a prison sentence? Article 380 (1) of the Criminal Code [...]

Punishments for drug possession established in the Criminal Code In Canada, it is strictly prohibited to consume, purchase or sell various types of drugs. According to the Criminal Code, the [...]

Cyberbullying and cyber harassment: acts punishable by law Harassment and bullying are nothing new. Characterized by offensive actions, words, images and behaviors, harassment and bullying aim to [...]

What are your options if you’re accused of assault (falsely or not)? Unfortunately, sexual assault is a common problem. In Quebec, it’s estimated that one out of every three women has been the [...]

What are the implications of a first offense and what should you do? There are all kinds of firsts in life. Some are cause for celebration, while others carry grave consequences. For example, [...]

How a criminal record can impact your life One wrong turn can cost you dearly and follow you for life, regardless of the nature of the offense, whether driving under the influence, theft, sexual [...]

Sexual harassment: reprehensible behaviour and possible sentences In Canada, 43% of women in the workforce say they’ve been a victim of some form of sexual harassment. And we don’t mean flirting [...]

Drug Trafficking: What We Learn From the Criminal Code If you think that trafficking only concerns organized crime, street gangs, important dealers and local dealers, you are wrong! Do you know [...]

What is sexual consent within the meaning of the Act? In Quebec, only 5% of sexual crimes are reported to the police. Why? Because of shame, guilt, confusion, inferiority, weakness or is it [...]

Alcohol and Road Safety: Everything You Need to Know Nowadays, around 80% of Canadians drink alcohol, many of which to celebrate a wedding or a birthday, for example. However, one must know the [...]

What is considered an assault and what are the consequences? When looking at a criminal record, we often find information regarding assault convictions. It is not surprising because it is the [...]

What does the new law say regarding cell phones and driving? In Quebec, driving while using your phone has become much too frequent and is now the leading cause of deadly collisions in the [...]