If you are facing criminal charges, you need a criminal defence lawyer in Toronto to look at your case as soon as possible.
A peace bond is a court order described in section 810 of the Criminal Code of Canada. It is not a criminal charge, and you won’t get a criminal record just because a peace bond is issued. For a detailed overview, see our page on peace bonds in Toronto.
A peace bond sets out specific conditions to protect the safety of others or property. A judge can order that a peace bond be imposed if there is a reasonable fear that a person will cause personal injury to another person, their family, or their property, often arising from domestic violence allegations.
A peace bond is a more serious form of restraining order because breaching the conditions may result in criminal charges. Breaching a peace bond can also result in a financial penalty. If a breach leads to a charge, here’s what to expect in the Toronto criminal court process.
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 criminal offences beat the charge. Learn about our Toronto criminal defence services.
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 lawyer today by calling (647) 986-8077. You can also explore resolutions to avoid a criminal record such as peace bonds.
Key Takeaways
- A peace bond is a court order says that a person has to keep the peace and follow certain rules for up to a year.
- People request peace bonds to keep someone they think will hurt them away from them.
- If you agree to a peace bond, you won’t have a criminal record.
- Section 811 of the Criminal Code says that breaking the terms of a peace bond is a crime that can be punished with a summary conviction.
How can a peace bond lawyer in Toronto help?
For accused persons charged with domestic violence offences where there has not been serious injury, a peace bond is very often the best possible outcome. If a Crown consents to doing a peace bond, the criminal charge will be withdrawn.
Preventing a criminal record is the most beneficial result that we seek for our clients. While a peace bond may show up on certain kinds of “enhanced” police background checks (for example, a “vulnerable persons check”), it is not entered into the national criminal record database. This means that the client can honestly say they have never been found guilty, and have never been convicted and have not received a criminal record.
Peace bonds do not require the accused to plead guilty. The only legally binding criteria is that there is a reasonable fear that an offence may be committed
Examples of Offences Possibly Eligible for Peace Bonds
- Simple assault
- Domestic assault, including chocking and hair pulling
- Domestic assault causing bodily harm
- Domestic assault with a weapon
- Unlawful confinement
- Threats in a domestic context
- Criminal harassment
- Possession of child pornography
Peace Bond Conditions
A peace bond generally lasts between 6 and 12 months. The main condition of a peace bond requires that a client “keep the peace and be of good behaviour.” The length and specific conditions of a peace bond are based on a case-by-case basis.
Other conditions may include the following:
- having no contact with the victim(s),
- not attending the victim’s home or workplace (also called a “no go” condition),
- a prohibition on carrying firearms or weapons,
- not to purchase or consume alcohol,
- not to attend establishments where the primary business is the sale of alcohol, and
- counselling requirements.
