A charge is not a conviction. You are presumed innocent, and the Crown must prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. At Law Wise Professional Corporation, a criminal defence lawyer in Mississauga explains the charge, the court process and your options, and represents you in court. The firm is based in Mississauga’s City Centre and serves clients across the entire GTA and Ontario.
Criminal charges we can help with
- Bail hearingsRelease plans, sureties and bail reviews after an arrest.
- Assault chargesAssault, assault causing bodily harm and aggravated assault.
- Domestic assaultCharges involving a spouse or partner, and no-contact conditions.
- Sexual assaultSexual offence charges, consent and the special rules of evidence.
- Threats and harassmentUttering threats, criminal harassment and harassing communications.
- Impaired drivingDUI, over 80 and refusal charges, and Ontario licence penalties.
- Dangerous drivingDangerous operation, flight from police and failing to stop.
- Drug offencesPossession, trafficking, importing and cannabis offences.
- Theft and shopliftingTheft under and over $5,000, and options for a first charge.
- Fraud and forgeryFraud, false pretences, forgery and identity theft.
- Robbery and break and enterRobbery, break and enter, mischief and arson.
- Weapons and firearmsFirearms possession, storage and weapons prohibition orders.
- Breach of conditionsBail and probation breaches, and missed court dates.
- Youth chargesCharges against young people aged 12 to 17 under the YCJA.
- Warrants and your rightsArrest warrants, search warrants and dealing with the police.
- Criminal recordsRecord suspensions, discharges and police record checks.
Each page explains the charge, the penalties in the Criminal Code and the first steps to take. We also handle other criminal charges that are not listed here. Speak to us about your case.
Your rights on arrest or detention
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects everyone who deals with the police or is charged with an offence. Among other rights, you have the right:
- to be told promptly why you are being arrested or detained;
- to retain and instruct a lawyer without delay, and to be told that you have that right;
- to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure;
- not to be arbitrarily detained;
- to be presumed innocent until proven guilty;
- not to be denied reasonable bail without just cause;
- to be tried within a reasonable time.
If the police want to speak with you
You can ask to speak with a lawyer before you answer questions, and you have the right to remain silent. Using these rights is not an admission of anything. If you have been given release papers, keep them: they show your charges, your conditions and your first court date.
Bail: release while your case is before the court
A person who is arrested and held must be taken before a justice without unreasonable delay, and within 24 hours where a justice is available. At a bail hearing, detention is justified on only three grounds: it is necessary to make sure the person comes to court; it is necessary for the protection or safety of the public; or it is necessary to maintain confidence in the administration of justice.
In most cases the Crown must show why the accused should be held. For some charges and situations the onus is reversed, and the accused must show why detention is not justified.
Bail law changed on 15 July 2026. The federal Bail and Sentencing Reform Act added new reverse-onus situations. In those cases the accused must now clearly demonstrate that the proposed release plan addresses the risks the court has to consider. The Act also changed the rules on who can act as a surety. A release plan, including a suitable surety where one is needed, should be prepared before the hearing.
How a criminal case moves through court in Ontario
Criminal cases in Ontario begin in the Ontario Court of Justice, normally at the courthouse that serves the place where the offence is alleged to have happened. A case usually moves through four stages:
- Charge and releaseYou are released by the police or after a bail hearing, with a first court date.
- DisclosureThe Crown must disclose all relevant information to the defence. We review it with you.
- Resolution discussionsYour lawyer speaks with the Crown, and sometimes a judge, about whether the case can be resolved without a trial.
- Trial or resolutionThe case ends in a withdrawal, a guilty plea or a trial. Sentencing follows only if there is a finding of guilt.
The Supreme Court of Canada has set presumptive ceilings on how long this may take: 18 months for cases tried in the provincial court, which in Ontario is the Ontario Court of Justice, and 30 months for cases in the superior court. Delay beyond the ceiling is presumed to be unreasonable unless the Crown shows exceptional circumstances. Delay caused or waived by the defence does not count.
Summary, indictable and hybrid offences
Criminal offences are prosecuted either by summary conviction or by indictment. Many offences are hybrid, which means the Crown chooses how to proceed. Unless the Criminal Code provides otherwise for a particular offence, the maximum penalty on summary conviction is a fine of $5,000, imprisonment for two years less a day, or both. Indictable offences carry higher maximum penalties and more procedural steps.
Outcomes other than a conviction
Not every charge ends in a conviction. A charge can be withdrawn, and an accused can be found not guilty. In some cases a court may grant an absolute or conditional discharge instead of entering a conviction, where that is in the best interests of the accused and not contrary to the public interest. A person who is discharged is deemed not to have been convicted. Discharges are not available for every offence. No lawyer can promise a particular result.
Effects on immigration status, family court and work
A criminal charge can have consequences outside the criminal court. For permanent residents and foreign nationals, some convictions can lead to inadmissibility to Canada, so tell your lawyer about your immigration status at the start. Charges that involve a spouse or partner often run alongside a family law case, and bail conditions can affect where you live and how you see your children. A finding of guilt can also affect employment and travel.
How a Law Wise criminal defence lawyer can help
We explain the charge and what the Crown has to prove, prepare for the bail hearing where one is needed, review the disclosure with you, raise Charter issues where the evidence supports them, speak with the Crown about resolution, and represent you at trial. Your file is handled by a Law Wise lawyer licensed by the Law Society of Ontario. Service is available in English, Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi, and, if you retain the firm, fees are explained and confirmed in writing before work starts.
Common questions about criminal charges in Ontario
Do I have to answer police questions?
You do not have to answer questions, and on arrest or detention you are entitled to consult a lawyer without delay. You can tell the police that you want to speak with a lawyer first.
Will I be held in custody until my trial?
Not necessarily. Many people are released by the police or at a bail hearing. A court can order detention only on the three grounds set out in the Criminal Code. For some charges the accused must show why release is appropriate, and since 15 July 2026 that list is longer.
Where will my case be heard?
Generally at the Ontario Court of Justice courthouse that serves the place where the charge was laid. Your release papers show the court and the date. Law Wise takes criminal cases in courts across Ontario, so bring those papers to your consultation.
How long will my case take?
It depends on the charge, the amount of disclosure and whether the case goes to trial. The Supreme Court of Canada’s presumptive ceilings are 18 months in the Ontario Court of Justice and 30 months in the Superior Court of Justice.
Can the complainant drop the charges?
In Ontario the decision to continue or withdraw a charge belongs to the Crown, not to the person who made the complaint.
Will I have a criminal record?
That depends on how the case ends. A withdrawal or an acquittal is not a conviction, and a person who receives a discharge is deemed not to have been convicted. After a conviction, a record suspension may be available later through the Parole Board of Canada.
Speak with a criminal defence lawyer in Mississauga
Your first consultation is free for 15 minutes, by appointment. Bring your release papers and any disclosure you have received.
This page is general legal information for Ontario, current as of 11 October 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. For advice about your situation, please speak with a lawyer.