Navigating the Legal Landscape of Assault Charges

The legal landscape of assault charges in Surrey, British Columbia is similar to the legal landscape in any big city in Canada. There is a higher crime rate in big cities but there is also a larger population. There is also a high percentage of immigrants in Surrey (about 45% of the general population.)

We already know and have mentioned before that Surrey has a relative high crime rate, among the highest in Canada. Now why would that be? Is it because the immigrant population have difficulty finding well-paying jobs, so poverty and language barriers lead to more crime? Do the immigrants not understand the laws in Canada?

What causes crime is very complex issue with no easy or black and white answers. Nevertheless, in a city like Surrey with a high crime rate, it is likely that courts and court schedules or dockets are very busy. Cases that will proceed to court may take longer than in other areas.

Since we know that prosecutors pick and choose which cases to prosecute, it is likely that the cases proceeding to court are particularly egregious and in which the Crown is very confident that they can win the case. We are all human, and if a prosecutor has hundreds of potential cases, he or she is likely to cherry-pick the ones that give the best odds for the Crown.

In addition, defence lawyers are also very busy, and it may be more difficult to hire a good one that in another city. For that reason, we always say that if you are charged with a crime hire a defence lawyer immediately and make no statements to the police before consulting with your lawyer. If you cannot afford to hire your own, the court system will assign a lawyer to you. Ask for your lawyer!

If you have been charged with assault or other criminal offences, please contact Gagan Nahal for a free consultation in Vancouver at (604) 527-4769 as soon as possible. Mr. Nahal’s law practice focuses on criminal defence law, and he has extensive experience in this area of the law.

Gagan Nahal is a criminal defence lawyer based in Surrey, British Columbia, although he has represented clients across Canada. He works vigorously and tirelessly defending his clients. 

If you have any questions about this article or you would like to talk to Mr. Nahal, please call him directly at (604) 527-4769.