Know Your Rights

It is essential that you are aware of your rights as granted by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

You are entitled to be free from unreasonable search and seizure. In other words the police must have reasonable grounds to believe that you have committed or are about to commit a criminal act in order to subject you to a search.

You are entitled to the right to remain silent. Many people feel that they can talk their way out of a confrontation with the police. Most of the time they are wrong. It is VERY important to remember that anything you say can and will be used against you later. It is always my advice that people take advantage of their right to silence in order to prevent their words being twisted out of context and harming their case down the road.

You are entitled to speak with legal counsel. The police MUST provide you with an opportunity to contact a lawyer, either your own or duty counsel. It is VERY important that you take advantage of this right in order to properly inform yourself of your options.

RETURN TO CRIMINAL MATTERS