In the late 1990s, a Sudbury woman named Kimberly Rogers was accused of welfare fraud for receiving social assistance and student loans at the same time, which was illegal. Her social assistance benefits were suspended, and following her conviction, she was placed under house arrest. She suffered financially, and her mental health deteriorated after she encountered intense social scrutiny.
Ms. Rogers passed away while under house arrest, leading to a public inquiry about the impact of removing social assistance from vulnerable people. Even with legal representation, this relatively minor crime resulted in severe consequences for her. Ms. Rogers was eight months pregnant at the time of her death.
If you have been accused of a crime and may be formally charged, you may not be worried about how it could affect your life. However, even being a suspect in a criminal case can do significant damage.
In the paragraphs below, we discuss the potential negative implications of being caught up in the criminal justice system, and how a criminal lawyer in Toronto can help you avoid them.
How an Accusation, Charge, and Conviction Can Affect Your Future
There are several ways you can be affected by being caught up in the criminal justice system:
Stress and Anxiety
Even getting a speeding ticket is nerve-racking, but when you are arrested and charged, it can be completely overwhelming. Any criminal lawyer in Toronto will tell you that a big part of their job is keeping their clients calm and focused.
Prolonged stress can have long-term effects on the mind and the body. Do not overlook the potential impact of worry and strain over the course of the months or even years, your case could last.
Legal Costs
Legal fees can add up. Although this is not a good argument for hiring a criminal lawyer in Toronto, it is one of the costs involved with getting arrested, and we cannot leave it off the list. That said, it can be more expensive in the long run to go through the process without solid representation. Hire someone with a good reputation and a track record of success in criminal law.
Employment Implications
Employers can terminate or suspend someone facing a criminal conviction. You could also have trouble finding new employment while your case is ongoing, and even afterward. A conviction can also disqualify you from holding certain positions, including jobs in healthcare, law, teaching, and anything else where trust is paramount.
Travel Restrictions
Some countries, including the United States, can restrict your travel by denying you entry. You may only discover that when you present yourself at a port of entry; having a criminal lawyer with Toronto experience on your team can help you avoid this consequence.
Education Impacts
A criminal conviction is highly likely to result in expulsion from post-graduate and professional programs and even from lower educational levels. If you are not expelled or suspended, you could still be barred from entering the profession you have been training for, meaning the money you invested in your education will have been wasted.
Social Consequences
A criminal charge or conviction can damage your personal and professional relationships. With some crimes, even being suspected can result in social stigma that can follow you for decades.
How a Criminal Lawyer in Toronto Can Help You
Serving as Your Primary Advisor
Law professionals are frequently maligned. However, when you wind up in the criminal justice system, there is no substitute for the calm reassurance you will get from a criminal lawyer with Toronto experience. Lawyers are experts at remaining level-headed and even-tempered in highly stressful situations. They will keep you focused on what you need to do at every step of the process.
Protecting Your Rights
The process of getting arrested and charged may leave you feeling as though you have no rights, but you do, and you should defend them. A criminal lawyer with Toronto experience will ensure that your rights are not violated and if they are, they will work to have any evidence obtained by the police excluded from your trial.
Handling Public Relations
Although they are not PR professionals, every criminal lawyer in Toronto has had to deal with the press and angry members of the public. They can serve as your spokesperson where your case is concerned, advise you about what to say (and not to say) outside the courtroom, and refer you to a PR professional if you need one.
Building a Strong Defence
Your lawyer will examine the evidence against you and the supporting documentation. They will interview witnesses, collect additional evidence, and hire a private investigator if necessary. A skilled criminal lawyer in Toronto will leave no stone unturned to develop a strategy that gives you every advantage possible for a strong defence.
If a plea agreement is your best option, your lawyer will negotiate for the most favourable deal possible, leveraging their negotiation expertise and their relationship with the Crown attorney (the prosecution) to get an outcome that is optimal for you.
Helping you Avoid a Criminal Record
Even if you are convicted, you will not necessarily end up with a criminal record. The criminal lawyer for your Toronto case will explore the options with the Crown attorney and negotiate a lesser penalty such as a diversion program, community service, or restitution. There is a range of possibilities available, especially for first-time offenders convicted of less serious offences.
Such penalties may still seem unfair to you, especially if you believe you were falsely accused. However, you must keep in mind that maintaining a clean record is the goal. Listen to your lawyer’s advice and consider it carefully.
Helping with a Record Suspension
Once you have completed your sentence, and after a fixed period of time, you can apply to have your record suspended (a type of pardon). While this does not eliminate your conviction, it does mean that it will not appear on most background checks, which will make it easier to apply for certain types of employment, rent property, and so forth.
You do not need a criminal lawyer in Toronto to apply for a record suspension, but it can be helpful if your case is complex, you are missing some of your documentation, or you want to make sure your application is correct.
About Zamani Law
If you are suspected of a criminal offence, or you have been arrested, contact a criminal lawyer in Toronto immediately. The sooner a lawyer can be at your side and on your side, the better.
The team at Zamani Law, led by renowned criminal lawyer, Farid Zamani will guide you through the process, protect your rights, and fight for the best outcome for you and your future. Contact Zamani law today for a free consultation.
