If you are facing criminal charges, you need a criminal defence lawyer in Toronto to look at your case as soon as possible.

If you are reading this, you have already taken the first step toward defending your case. Because every individual case is unique and fact-specific, it is important to get legal advice from a Strategic Criminal Defence lawyer about what your next steps should be.

There are, however, a few general things you should do as soon as possible:

  • Document What Happened: Write down in detail, and preferably in chronological order, what happened on the relevant day(s) in question. There should typically be three main aspects to this:
    • The circumstances leading up to the incident;
    • What actually took place during the incident; and
    • What has happened since the incident.
    • Ensure you use maps and diagrams where applicable and put a date on your notes.
  • Have Witnesses Document What Happened: Ask any witnesses who have any impact on the case to write down what they saw from their perspective. This could include, for example, a friend who witnessed the event and can corroborate your version of events.
  • Keep a Journal: Keep an ongoing journal of any dealings associated with your case so you can update our lawyers. Like the original documentation of what happened, this will be most useful if documented in chronological order.
  • Store All Documents: It is important that you collect and maintain all documents issued to you by the police, the courts, or anyone else associated with your case. This could include, for example, the release documents you received at the police station.
  • Take and Store Relevant Photographs: Take pictures of anything relevant to the case, whether it is pictures of the scene, specific items, or yourself. For example, if you were involved in an altercation, and you are charged with assault, having documented photographs of your injuries may help to establish or support your claim that you were acting in self-defence.
  • Collect Personal Information/Documents: Start thinking about collecting information and documentation that casts you in a positive light. This could include any accomplishments in school, work, and your community.

Although at first this list may seem overwhelming, remember that a Strategic Criminal Defence lawyer can assist with collecting this information.

Strategic Criminal Defence is a top Google-rated criminal defence firm in Toronto, with over 500 5-star reviews. Our firm, and our experienced legal team, have defended clients in over 10,000 criminal cases. Leveraging our extensive network of lawyers and decades of experience, we craft defence strategies to help those accused of a criminal offence beat the charge.

The lawyers at Strategic Criminal Defence are both highly experienced and dedicated to defending your rights and future in the face of these charges. Contact a Toronto lawyer today by calling (647) 986-8077.

Key Takeaways

  • Get in touch with a Strategic Criminal Defence lawyer right away if you are charged with a crime. Every case is different and needs professional legal advice.
  • Take detailed, chronological notes of everything that happened before, during, and after the event. Include maps and diagrams if they are needed.
  • Ask any witnesses to write down what they saw from their point of view to see if it backs up your story.
  • Get paperwork that shows you in a good light, like achievements in school, work, or community service.
  • Once you hire our defence lawyers, we will go to court for you and deal with judges, Crown prosecutors, and police.
  • Depending on how complicated, criminal cases can take anywhere from a few months to a few years to resolve.

How can a Strategic Criminal Defence lawyer in Toronto help?

Our lawyers will be there for you every step of the way through the criminal justice system.

Having compiled the relevant information, our team will be able to better assist you, as they will have a more thorough understanding of your side of the story. This allows them to fully canvass possible defences and strategies.

Once you retain one of our dedicated Toronto criminal defence lawyers, we will attend court on your behalf, and will deal with the judge, Crown Prosecutor, and police as required. It is important to note that the first court date is generally a procedural appearance. That is, nothing substantive usually happens that day. There may be several such appearances. We will attend as many as necessary to get and assess all the relevant information before taking the next step.

Importantly, we will obtain the police information (disclosure) package which outlines the case and evidence against you. We will review the information and discuss the case with you, and the Crown Prosecutor. From there, we will determine what to do next. One of the immediate benefits of having us as your lawyers is that you will not have to go to court or do anything further until we inform you otherwise. This can be a huge stress reliever while navigating the criminal justice system.

Court Process Stages 

Navigating the criminal justice system can be scary and confusing. We have done our best to break down the various key components involved in the process. Please see the pages listed below for more information on the various stages of the criminal justice system process:

Criminal Trial Process in Canada

The first thing that happens is that the person accused goes to court to be arraigned. 

  • This means that they will hear the charges against them and then say whether they are guilty or not.
  • Next, a trial date is set if they say they are not guilty. Before the trial, the Crown prosecutor (who speaks for the public) and your lawyer both get ready by gathering evidence.
  • The Crown goes first in the trial and tries to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the person did the crime. They might call people to testify who swear to tell the truth. After that, the defence tells their side of the story by either questioning the Crown’s evidence or giving other reasons for what they say.
  • After both sides have made their closing arguments, the judge and/or jury looks at all the evidence. Most of the time, a judge alone decides on a sentence.

Frequently Asked Questions

A lot of things can change how long a criminal file in Canada lasts. It can take a few months, to even years, for more complicated cases.

You can hire an experienced Strategic Criminal Defence lawyer who can make sure your best defences and case is put forward. You can also follow any release orders you are currently under, stay in contact with your lawyer, and document everything you can remember or have access to, which relates to your case.