What Are Your Rights If You Are Charged With a Crime in BC?

Your rights in British Columbia are federal rights, and as such, they are the same in all provinces and territories. In today’s blog article we will outline what your rights are.

If you are charged with a crime, these are your legal rights which are found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

1. You have the right to be secure against unreasonable search and seizure.
2. You cannot be arrested arbitrarily. Police and prosecutors have to have compelling evidence to arrest you.
3. You have the right to be told that you have a right to a lawyer and the right to access a lawyer immediately. You also have the right to know why you are being arrested.
4. You have the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, the right not to be a witness against yourself, and the right to a trial within a reasonable time.
5. You have the right to reasonable bail unless there is a compelling reason why you should not have it. In Canada, most people charged with a crime are allowed bail.
6. You have the right to an interpreter if you need one.
7. You have the right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment.

These rights noted above are not all of the rights that you have under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but they are the most well-known and most often cited ones.

In the event that you are charged with a crime, your lawyer will go over with you what rights you have and which ones you need to specifically know about. The biggest takeaway here is Canadian citizens have a long list of important rights, and if you are charged with a crime, it is important to understand what they are.

If you are charged with a crime, please contact Gagan Nahal for a free consultation in Vancouver at (604) 527-4769. Mr. Nahal’s law practice focuses on criminal defence law, and he has extensive experience in these areas of the law. We recommend to all of those individuals charged with a crime to exercise your right to silence and make no statements to police without first consulting your lawyer. 

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.