As a criminal defence lawyer, I believe it is important for police to be held accountable for their actions. To some extent, the courts are able to do that but certainly, there can be a more fulsome and effective manner to deal with police outside of the court.
If justice delayed is justice denied, then news that Alberta Justice and Solicitor General continues to examine a system that has Crown prosecutors screen all criminal charges before they are laid by police is certainly cause for optimism.
The federal government’s misguided ban on “assault weapons” not only fails to tackle the real root of gun violence in Canada but it represents wedge politics at its absolute worst.
Decriminalizing impaired driving is a flawed concept that would remove protections under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and could potentially lead to massive state intrusion into the personal lives of Albertans.
Is it legal to spank your child in Canada? The law in Canada recognizes some situations exist where a parent or legal guardian may use reasonable force on a child.
A peace bond is not offered in every case where a charge for simple assault has been laid. There are unfortunately some crown prosecutors who will not offer a peace bond in some circumstances.
The current COVID-19 (aka – the 2019 novel coronavirus) pandemic is affecting the world in many ways. This blog will address how the Justice System and the Courts in Alberta have responded to the pandemic.
COVID 19 and Release Conditions
Unfortunately, the entire world is in a state of emergency. Prior to Covid – 19, your first court appearance was generally only a week or two from when you were initially charged. This is no longer the case.
There are a number of different ways you can be charged. Often times, if the assault occurs in the domestic home and the police are called, the individual accused of the assault will be charged upon police arrival.
Domestic violence charges are on the rise in Alberta and North America. This is in part due to the #METOO movement and the fear of police scrutiny from the general public if they do not charge anyone and everyone with an assault after a complaint is made.
The Province of Alberta currently has a two-part system to deal with impaired drivers. The first part of the system involves Administrative License Suspensions (AALS) and Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) under the Provincially governed and legislated Traffic Safety Act.
Proposed legislation to address protesters who trespass on Alberta farms and agricultural land sends a strong message that if you break the law, you’ll pay the price, says Calgary criminal lawyer Greg Dunn.
A criminal conviction brings an element of social stigma to those involved, but when information can live forever online, even being charged can affect your reputation indefinitely, says Calgary criminal lawyer Greg Dunn.
When determining what kind of force can be used to defend your property, the circumstances dictate what is considered appropriate, says Calgary criminal lawyer Greg Dunn.
The addition of more prosecutors is good news for Alberta, and will provide help with the increased caseload facing the province’s criminal justice system, says Calgary criminal lawyer Greg Dunn.
The latest gun control statements from the federal minister investigating ways to curb organized crime are nothing more than “political rhetoric designed to install fear in urban Canadians,” says Calgary criminal lawyer Greg Dunn.
“Anecdotally, legal restrictions on gun ownership do not deter criminals from utilizing a firearm in the commission of an offence,” says Dunn.
It would be a mistake to scrap the triage policy that directs Alberta prosecutors to abandon lesser criminal cases in favour of more serious files.
“We live in an era in which the criminal justice system place enormous faith in the accuracy and appropriate functions of these instruments,” says Dunn.
A dissenting Ontario Court of Appeal judge may have broken new ground in defining the privacy rights of citizens outside their homes.
“If we don't have deference afforded to counsel in bringing joint submissions before the court, then you undermine the purpose of joint submissions, which is certainty.”
Recent withdrawal of hunting charges against Greg Dunn's client illustrates the prevalence of unconstitutional stops and seizures by wildlife officials in Alberta.
BC is wishing to reduce the costs of impaired-driving enforcement, devised a provincial administrative system in 2010 whereby individuals who were stopped for drunk driving would not be charged criminally
Calgary criminal lawyer Greg Dunn tells Vice while a municipality or province can't control firearm ownership, they can make it difficult to accommodate gun owners and vendors.
Following a lengthy trial earlier this year, a provincial court judge found him not guilty of all three counts Friday.
