Are you looking for a Criminal Lawyer in Brampton, Ontario? Being arrested and charged with a crime can be one of the most stressful things someone can go through in their lifetime.

When someone is facing criminal charges, everything else, from jobs to family obligations to relationships, seems to take a backseat and no longer matter as they face the prospect of losing their freedom. The stigma of a criminal charge or conviction can follow someone around for life, even long after they’ve paid their purported debt to society upon release from prison.

Those with criminal convictions in their past can face an untold number of obstacles when it comes to getting a job or finding a place to live.

The ripple effect of one mistake can be devastatingly life-changing for not only those found guilty of a crime but also their families and friends. If you’ve been charged with a crime in Brampton and need to speak to a criminal defence lawyer, you can fill out the form on the side of this page to book a time to talk to a lawyer.

Do not wait to speak to a lawyer

When dealing with criminal offences, it’s imperative that you speak to a lawyer immediately. Clearway can connect you with affordable and experienced Brampton criminal defence lawyers. Use our legal marketplace.

The question is, how much are you willing to spend to protect and preserve your freedom? Going to jail is no joke and can be extremely harmful to a person’s mental and physical health. That’s why it’s vital to ensure you get represented by a good lawyer immediately without delay. You might not want to hire a legal aid lawyer with fifty other clients for severe or even minor charges.

Seasoned Criminal Law Specialists in Brampton, Ontario

Even worse, you might not qualify for legal aid and be alone when finding a lawyer after being charged with a crime. When your freedom and future are at stake, you need proper personalized representation when going against the state in a criminal court.

According to the Region of Peel, crime rates in Brampton and nearby municipalities steadily dropped between 2006 and 2017, except for a slight uptick between 2016 and 2017.

“Over the past ten years, there has been a general decline in overall crime rates in Canada, Ontario, and the Peel Region,” the regional government noted. “From 2016-2017, the crime rate for Ontario, Mississauga and Brampton slightly increased.”

However, those numbers only refer to crimes that get reported and could mask the actual crime rate in the city, which had a population of more than 656,000 people, according to the 2021 Canadian census.

What to Do if You’re Arrested in Brampton

Brampton, Ontario, is under the jurisdiction of the Peel Regional Police. The law enforcement agency’s website spells out what should happen if you’re arrested, but that doesn’t mean police don’t make mistakes and violate people’s rights.

Negligent or malicious actions by police officers can sink a criminal case regardless of the seriousness of the offence, and a good Brampton criminal defence lawyer will be able to identify police misconduct associated with your arrest, which could mean the charges are dropped or tossed out by a judge.

Steps involved with getting arrested

Police officers executing the arrest must identify themselves. They must tell you you’re under arrest, not simply being “detained.” They will inform you of the reason you’re being arrested. A police officer or group of officers will physically take control of you, which may involve violence if they perceive any resistance, regardless of how cooperative you try to be.

Arresting officers must inform you of your right to retain a lawyer immediately, which includes the right to speak with any lawyer of your choosing by phone. You will be told of your right to free advice from a Legal Aid lawyer, but you may not qualify for legal aid depending on the offence with which you’re charged or your financial situation.

Navigating the Criminal Justice System

Arresting officers will ask you whether you understand your rights. Police will also search and handcuff you before taking you to a holding cell. It’s also up to an officer’s discretion to possibly release you where the arrest occurred or take you to a police station for processing, “depending on the circumstances.”

After you’ve arrived at a police station, a senior officer can decide whether to release you or hold you in a cell until a first court appearance in front of a Justice of the Peace.

Affordable Criminal Defense Lawyers in Brampton, Ontario

Police officers in Canada, whether in Brampton or Moose Jaw, are bound by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and any conduct that violates a criminal suspect’s charter rights can be grounds for dismissing the charges.

The use of unnecessary force or the failure to properly inform a suspect of their rights can doom a criminal prosecution, and a good criminal defence lawyer can seize upon police mistakes and misconduct to show a court that the arrest was improper and/or illegal.

While things may have improved over the last decade, back in 2011, the Peel Regional Police came under fire after two people facing criminal charges were set free due to police misconduct.

The two cases that came before the courts just weeks apart ended when judges “ruled that officers lied and intimidated suspects,” according to a report in the Globe and Mail in June 2011.

Building Strong Cases for Trials

In one case, officers were found to have wrongfully strip-searched a suspect “to show him who was boss,” with police lying about the conduct in their testimony “to conceal their misconduct.” Weeks earlier, another judge in Ontario found that officers “misled the courts” about a suspected pimp being caught with fake identification documents.

“The double blow from the judiciary has done little to shake the police service that patrols the fast-growing cities of Brampton and Mississauga to the west of Toronto: It has no plans to investigate or discipline the rogue officers,” the newspaper reported.

“Defence lawyers who regularly try cases in the area call it the latest example of a troubling and cozy relationship between the police service and the local prosecutor’s office, which has yet to wipe away the decades-old stain of a high-profile wrongful conviction.”

Many criminal defence lawyers offer 24-hour service but are usually hard at work during regular weekday court hours. Criminal defence lawyers can help you if you’re facing criminal charges, but it’s wise to ask any lawyers you talk to about all the clients they have successfully defended. If you’re facing charges of fraud or some financial crime, you might not want to retain a lawyer who primarily works with people accused of violent crimes such as assault or homicide.

Different Types Of Brampton Criminal Law Matters

• Break and Enter (B&E)
• Drug offences
• Fraud
• Sexual Assault
• Domestic Assault (our lawyers can also help with family law)
• DUI’s
• Theft
• Any other criminal offences spelled out in the Criminal Code of Canada

Why You Should Work With A Criminal Defence Lawyer In Brampton

Your freedom is worth fighting for, no matter what the cost, especially if you feel you’ve been wrongfully accused or treated unlawfully by police. You might have difficulty getting good jobs if you’re charged and convicted and have a criminal record.

Indeed, a criminal record can carry steep financial and social costs. Hence, it’s worth spending a few thousand dollars on retaining a lawyer to ensure your legal rights are asserted in court and protected from overzealous prosecutors and deceptive law enforcement agents.

It’s important to remember that when you are in jail, you cannot work and earn income. If you go to prison for a year, you might have earned $50,000 that year or more. Defending yourself in court from a criminal charge might be possible, but without a law degree, you’d be rolling the dice and unnecessarily gambling with your future.

It may seem worth it at first to save $5000 on legal fees, but it may cost you more than you could imagine before ending up in handcuffs or a jail cell.

Can I Attend a Bail Hearing Without A Lawyer and Represent Myself?

There’s no rule against representing yourself at a bail hearing, but the question is, at what cost? What happens if your bail is denied? Depending on the charges, a judge may advise you to get a lawyer because dealing with self-represented individuals in criminal matters creates untold headaches for prosecutors, judges, court clerks, and registry staff.

An already complex and time-consuming process becomes even more difficult when courts have to accommodate people who have no legal training and no knowledge of the rules about court procedures and evidence.

Mind you, there are certain areas of law where you can do things for yourself. For example, you might use business templates online for specific contracts with vendors or employees. But criminal law is different, and it’s rarely, if ever, advisable to handle a criminal legal matter yourself without the help of a defence lawyer.

Speak to a Brampton Criminal Defence Lawyer Now

It is important to have enough time to prepare for a bail hearing. Many bail hearings happen very quickly after you are arrested, and if you have been given a date for a first appearance, your lawyer needs time to prepare.

The prosecutor will likely provide them with evidentiary disclosure materials at an initial court appearance. Depending on the charges and circumstances, the process can take weeks or even months before a trial date is agreed upon.

For minor offences or a first offence, it’s also likely that the prosecutor will be open to a plea agreement that avoids a lengthy trial. An excellent criminal defence lawyer can advise you of all your options, possible outcomes, and odds of beating a charge.

Overworked prosecutors, up against aggressive and experienced defence counsel, will likely be amenable to cutting a deal to avoid a trial. Their duty is to the victims of an offence.

Accomplished Criminal Defense Legal Experts In Brampton, Ontario

If you’re charged with a violent crime such as an assault, the prosecutor will consult with a victim about their ideal outcome. In Canada, police can recommend charges.

It’s up to Canadian prosecutors to determine whether a charge should be laid based on a standard of a “substantial likelihood of conviction” and whether or not pursuing the case would be in the public interest. Prosecutors must consider the public interest value of pursuing a criminal case, but defence lawyers’ main interest is protecting the rights of their clients and keeping them out of jail.

If you’ve been hit with criminal charges in Brampton, ClearWay can connect you with a criminal lawyer who will fight for your rights. It’s often said that everyone deserves their day in court, but here at ClearWay, we believe that people shouldn’t face that day alone.

What should I look for in a Brampton Criminal Defence Lawyer?

We believe the most important thing is communication. You want a criminal lawyer that will keep you up to date. A lawyer should provide reassurance about how they’re handling your case to help you relax and relieve the stress of facing a criminal charge.

How Much Do Criminal Defence Lawyers Cost?

Most criminal lawyers will charge per hour, or they might ask for a $ 3,000-$ 5,000 retainer upfront. With a criminal lawyer, remember that your freedom is more important than money. Also, getting a criminal record will cost you a lot more in the long term, so seeking to save money on your defence costs is likely not a good idea. Do not speak to the police without first talking to a lawyer. Find out if you can leave the police station.