It was recently announced that British Columbia received a three-year exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to remove the criminal penalties associated with certain illicit substances for personal use. The time-limited three-year trial comes after overdoses killed over two thousand people in BC in 2021 alone. The new criminal code exemption allows adults [...]
Criminal charges of a sexual nature need to be taken seriously by both sexual assault victims and the accused. If you have been accused of sexual violence you will be facing more than just criminal and civil cases. As the accused, your reputation can be permanently tarnished. Sexual charges stick with a person for far [...]
When a crime has been committed in Canada, a specific process is typically followed. First, police will investigate and likely recommend charges. Next, a prosecutor (referred to as the “Crown counsel”) can approve those charges. If that happens, a judge or jury will be tasked with deciding whether or not there is sufficient evidence to [...]
If you’ve received a DUI charge in Canada, you may be worried about the impact that this charge will have on your life, including what the legal consequences will be, whether you'll be able to drive to work or school, and how the charge will affect your reputation in your community. Many people make mistakes, [...]
Facing any type of criminal charge can be intimidating, which is why you should always seek out help from a criminal assault lawyer. No one wants a criminal record, and a simple assault with a weapon is all it takes to end up with mid-level charges that can change your life. With that in mind, [...]
If you have found yourself facing drug charges in British Columbia, you likely are concerned about the penalties you may be facing. The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act clarifies that possession of cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, and other drugs that are considered a controlled substance is a criminal act. Therefore, drug possession charges can leave you [...]
Conditional release, known as parole, is a highly complex part of the criminal justice system and is often misunderstood. The purpose of parole is not to shorten an inmate's sentence but to issue them a conditional release that allows them to complete their sentencing requirements outside of a federal or provincial correctional facility. The criminal [...]
Possession of cocaine can result in a summary offence or an indictable offence with penalties that include paying a fine and spending time in prison. Cocaine is a controlled substance, and controlled substances are illegal across Canada. Whether you knowingly or unknowingly possess an illegal drug, you can be charged with a drug offence for [...]
If you leave the scene of an accident, you may face a penalty of five years in prison or other penalties, depending on circumstances. Leaving the accident scene and being involved in a hit-and-run accident are two different things. Jaswal & Krueger criminal lawyers have extensive experience with car-related cases and a thorough understanding of [...]
Yes, there are some instances where an impaired driving charge (commonly referred to a “driving under the influence” or DUI) can be dropped; a lack of causation, failure to follow the proper procedures, and the use of malfunctioning devices are a few examples of how skilled DUI lawyers could argue your DUI case to have [...]
