Clear, practical guidance on the criminal charges and questions Ontarians face most. Written by Robb MacDonald to help you understand your rights and your options.
Weapons
How the three gun possession charges differ, what the Crown's election changes, sentencing now that there is no minimum, bail on a section 95 charge, unlawful searches and immigration.
Read MoreYoung Offenders
What to tell your child to say to police, youth bail and the responsible-person undertaking, extrajudicial sanctions, school and social media, and when the record closes.
Read MoreFraud
The $5,000 line decides the maximum sentence, the court, whether a jury is possible and whether a discharge is available. Plus the $1 million minimum and what it means for jail.
Read MoreBail
Since 15 July 2026, more charges put the burden on the accused, reverse-onus plans must clearly address the risks, and most people with a recent indictable conviction cannot be sureties. Plus where Ontario's cash deposit rule stands.
Read MoreDrug Charges
Since 2022 police must consider a warning or referral before laying a simple possession charge. That, and whether the search was lawful, decides most of these cases.
Read MoreAssault
Ask for a lawyer and stop talking, read your release conditions before you leave, and preserve the video before it is overwritten. What the first three days after an assault charge actually require.
Read MoreChoosing a Lawyer
Four questions that actually separate criminal lawyers: where they went to law school, whether they practise criminal law primarily, whether they have run jury trials, and whether they have won murder trials.
Read MoreCriminal Defence
What is at stake in serious criminal cases, how a defence lawyer supports you, and why early legal intervention can change the outcome.
Read MoreBail
Reverse onus, the primary, secondary, and tertiary grounds, and how a strong release plan can secure bail even on the most serious charges.
Read MoreTrial
How your defence tests the Crown's case through disclosure under Stinchcombe, forensic review, witness credibility, and Charter challenges.
Read MoreCriminal Defence
What the Crown must prove for conspiracy and aiding and abetting, the difference between them, and why early counsel is critical.
Read MoreHomicide
Understanding manslaughter in Canada and how a defence is built around provocation, intoxication, accident, and the absence of intent to kill.
Read MoreYour Rights
An overview of your rights from arrest through bail, disclosure, and plea options, and how a defence lawyer supports you at every stage.
Read MoreBail
A step-by-step guide to the bail process, from arrest to release and conditions, and how families can act as sureties and support a loved one.
Read MoreImpaired Driving
What to expect after an impaired driving or Over 80 charge under Section 320.14: the arrest process, immediate penalties, and how cases are decided.
Read MoreSexual Assault
What consent really means in law: it must be voluntary, ongoing, and sober, and it can be withdrawn at any time, even within a relationship.
Read MoreDrug Offences
Recent changes to the Cannabis Act, including possession limits, rules for edibles and extracts, advertising restrictions, and enforcement.
Read MoreHomicide
How a homicide defence takes shape: reviewing evidence, examining intent, raising self-defence, and addressing Charter violations.
Read MoreSexual Assault
What happens at a first consultation: confidentiality, understanding the allegation, learning the process, and why timing matters.
Read MoreHomicide
First-degree, second-degree, and manslaughter explained, the elements the Crown must prove, and why experienced counsel matters.
Read MoreCriminal Defence
Why skilled representation matters, shown through a real Ontario self-defence acquittal, plus the benefits of early intervention.
Read MoreCriminal Defence
Protecting your rights, building a defence, negotiating with the Crown, and improving your odds by involving counsel as early as possible.
Read MoreAssault
What counts as assault under Section 265, the types and consequences, and the common strategies used to defend these charges.
Read MoreAssault
How a self-defence claim works under Section 34 of the Criminal Code and how a lawyer protects your rights and builds the argument.
Read MoreAssault
Each stage of an assault case in Ontario explained, from investigation and bail through pre-trial, trial, and sentencing.
Read MoreRecord Suspension
Five years after a summary sentence ends, ten after an indictable one, and a $50 Parole Board fee. What a suspension keeps off a background check, what it does not, and why it does not help at the US border.
Read MoreDon't navigate it alone. Robb offers a free, confidential consultation, day or night.