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Being arrested is disorienting. Officers move quickly, paperwork appears fast, and the choices you make in the first day shape what a Crown prosecutor is willing to consider months later. What follows is a short, practical guide.
The single most important right
Section 10(b) of the Charter gives you the right to retain and instruct counsel without delay. At the station, when you are asked whether you want to speak to a lawyer, say yes. Anything you tell the lawyer is privileged; anything you tell the officer is not.
What to sign, what not to sign
Read every page of the release documents. You do not need to sign a statement of admission โ an undertaking to appear at court is a separate document from a confession.
In the next 24 hours
- Write down every detail you can remember while it is fresh.
- Save timestamped receipts, texts, and calls that establish where you were.
- Call a criminal defence lawyer, even if only for advice on the release conditions.
Every case is different. What is written here is general information, not legal advice for your matter.