There will be new sheriffs in town, but is that what Alberta needs?
Alberta is getting some new sheriffs, although some people are questioning how effective they will be.
Blog
Having Crown attorneys vet charges before they are laid serves justice
An important change is coming to Alberta’s criminal justice system that should significantly reduce our court system’s caseload.
Alberta Firearms Act is what the province needs
Bill 8, the Alberta Firearms Act, took effect when it received royal assent on March 28, 2023. After years of attacks by Ottawa on law-abiding gun owners, the Act gives Alberta the tools it needs to regulate and administer firearms.
What you should know about the charge of luring a child
When a 39-year-old man went to a Calgary LRT station two years he thought he was going to meet a 15-year-old girl he had been chatting with online in order to have sex, according to a news report.
SCC judgment reinforces fundamental legal principles
A recent decision of the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) reinforces the legal principle that the Crown must present clear evidence to win a criminal conviction. It also shows the value of having effective defence counsel at trial.
Violent crimes are eroding public confidence in police
Violent crime is a concern for people living in large urban centres and Calgarians are losing faith in their police force when it comes to responding to it.
What you need to know about sexual offences involving children
Two recent high-profile cases have put the spotlight on child sex crimes.
Do not carry a concealed weapon in Alberta
People living in Alberta may wonder if they can carry some sort of concealed weapon with them when they go out in public, especially at night.
You have the right to protect yourself, within limits
A high-profile case in rural Alberta has raised questions about citizens’ rights to self-defence. In March 2020, two men stopped their truck on a public road near a farmer’s property. The landowner called his son and told him to bring a gun because he was concerned they were there to steal property.
Bail is for everyone, even those accused of violent crimes
The issue of whether people accused of violent crimes should be granted bail is back in the news after a police officer in Ontario was killed while stopping to check on a car in a ditch
Alberta’s IRS program puts efficiency ahead of fairness
The Alberta government claims that changes to the province’s impaired driving laws made at the end of 2020 “will keep our roads safer by providing serious and immediate consequences for all impaired drivers.”
Organized criminal operations increasing across Alberta
Criminal organizations play a large role in illegal activities that occur in Alberta.
Reports of hate crime surge in our provincial capital
Four examples of alleged hate crimes investigated by Albertan police or dealt with by the courts in 2022.
Crime rates are increasing in rural Alberta
When people think of crime, some may assume it mainly occurs in large urban centres, such as Edmonton and Calgary. That assumption is incorrect.
Criminal breach of trust usually involves employee theft
A criminal breach of trust occurs when someone abuses a position of authority for self-benefit and against the interests of the person to whom they owe the duty of trust. This charge is most commonly laid where an employee steals from their employer.
Catalytic converter thefts in Alberta
The theft of catalytic converters is on the rise across Canada, and Alberta is no exception. In 2021, there were 4,797 reported catalytic converter thefts in Alberta with 2,647 in Edmonton.
Fraud in Alberta has moved online
You can be charged with fraud if police believe you committed an offence where a person or the public was defrauded of any property, money or valuable security or service.
Intimate partner violence in Alberta
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as any violent, threatening, dominating, coercive or controlling behaviour between past or present partners.
Cannabis shops, pharmacies, common targets for robberies
If you steal something, such as a tool from a shed or money from a cash register, that’s theft.
Break and enters are a real concern in Calgary
The crime of break and enter (B&E) is one of the most common offences in Canada – and also one of the most misunderstood.
Why bail is a critical part of the judicial process
The term “bail” has been used frequently in news reports lately. In mid-July, Alberta resident Pat King was granted bail after spending five months in jail.
The charge of revenge porn explained
Revenge porn involves posting or sharing intimate images or videos of someone without their consent for vengeful purposes.
Understanding the crime of sextortion
Sextortion is a form of blackmail. It often starts with what seems to be an innocent conversation between two people.
Police should not police themselves
Alberta needs a civilian board to oversee police forces in the province, so I am encouraged to see the province moving in that direction.
Now may be the time for an Alberta Provincial Police Service
If Alberta decides it should have a provincial police force instead of paying for services from the RCMP, now may be the ideal time to make that investment whiles surging oil demand and prices allow us to balance our budget.
