Criminal Lawyer in Ottawa: What to Do After a Charge

What to do right now if you were charged in Ottawa

Being arrested or charged is frightening, whether it happened to you or someone you love. You are presumed innocent, and the steps you take in the first few days can matter a great deal.

• Use your right to a lawyer. Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, you have the right to speak to a lawyer without delay after an arrest or detention. If police are still asking questions, say clearly that you want to speak to a lawyer.
• You have the right to stay silent. You generally do not have to give a statement to police. Anything you say can be used as evidence. Be polite, give your identity if required, and save the explanations for your lawyer.
• Follow your release conditions exactly. If you were released on an undertaking (a written promise with conditions) or a release order from a bail hearing, read every condition. Conditions such as no contact with certain people, staying away from an address, or not drinking alcohol are legally binding. Breaking one can lead to a new charge.
• Keep all your paperwork. Keep your release document, any notice from police, and anything showing your first court date in a safe place. Write down what happened while your memory is fresh, and share it only with your lawyer.
• Do not miss your first court date. Your papers say when and where to appear. Missing it can lead to a warrant for your arrest and a further charge.

You can request a free, confidential first consultation with a criminal defence lawyer using the form on this page.

How a criminal case moves through the courts in Ottawa

In Ontario, police lay charges themselves. The case is then prosecuted by Crown attorneys of the Ministry of the Attorney General. Federal drug charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) are handled by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.

1. First appearance. Most cases start in the Ontario Court of Justice at the local courthouse in Ottawa. The first appearance is usually short: you or your lawyer confirm you have the charges and ask for the Crown's evidence. Pleas are rarely entered that day.
2. Disclosure. The Crown must give you its evidence, called disclosure: police notes, witness statements, video, and test results. Your lawyer reviews it to see how strong the case is and whether your rights were respected.
3. The Crown's election. Many offences are hybrid, meaning the Crown can choose to proceed by summary conviction (the less serious route) or by indictment. Since Bill C-75, the maximum sentence for most summary offences is two years less a day. For some indictable offences, you may be able to choose a trial in the Superior Court of Justice, with a judge alone or a judge and jury.
4. Crown pretrial and resolution meetings. Your lawyer can meet the Crown and a judge to discuss the case. Some charges may be withdrawn, reduced, or diverted, depending on the facts.
5. Trial or resolution. If the case does not resolve, it goes to trial, where the Crown must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Ottawa is a bilingual city, and under the Criminal Code you have the right to a trial in French or English. Tell your lawyer early which language you prefer. Simple cases may finish within months; serious or complex ones can take a year or more. The Supreme Court of Canada has set time limits for criminal trials, and unreasonable delay can sometimes lead to a stay of charges.

What a criminal defence lawyer can do for you

Criminal defence covers any Criminal Code or CDSA charge. In Ottawa, common charges include assault, impaired driving, theft, fraud, drug possession or trafficking, weapons offences, and breaches of release conditions or probation. A criminal lawyer can:

• Help with bail and conditions. Argue for your release, or ask to change conditions that keep you from home, work, or family.
• Test the evidence. Check whether searches, arrests, breath demands or police questioning respected your Charter rights. Evidence obtained in breach of those rights may sometimes be excluded.
• Build a defence. Depending on the charge, this may include self-defence or consent in an assault case, identification issues in a theft case, or whether you knew about drugs or a weapon.
• Deal with impaired driving measures. Impaired driving charges under Part VIII.1 of the Criminal Code often come with Ontario's 90-day Administrative Driver's Licence Suspension (ADLS) and vehicle impoundment, separate from the criminal case.
• Negotiate with the Crown. Explore withdrawals, diversion, peace bonds or reduced charges where the facts support it.
• Protect your future. Explain how each option may affect your record, job, immigration status and travel.

Crime in Ottawa: what the numbers show

These figures come from Statistics Canada police-reported data (table 35-10-0177) for the Ottawa, Ontario municipal police service area.

2025	Ottawa rate per 100,000	Incidents	Persons charged	Ontario rate	Canada rate
Violent Criminal Code violations	805.98	9,576	2,816	1,077.77	1,443.25
Property crime violations	3,004.76	35,700	2,064	2,599.56	3,140.55

Ottawa's violent crime rate rose from 619.09 per 100,000 in 2016 to a high of 828.4 in 2019, dipped to 708.88 in 2020, and has stayed around 800 since. It remains well below the Ontario and Canadian rates.

Property crime fell sharply in 2020 (2,124.92) and then climbed to a peak of 3,119.3 in 2024 before easing to 3,004.76 in 2025. Ottawa's property crime rate is now above Ontario's and slightly below Canada's. Notably, property incidents grew from 23,449 in 2016 to 35,700 in 2025, while persons charged fell from 2,261 to 2,064.

The Crime Severity Index for the Ottawa-Gatineau census metropolitan area was 50.61 overall and 61.98 for violent crime in 2025, down 6.49% from the year before (Canada was set at 100 in 2006; lower means less severe). See more on the Ottawa crime statistics page and in Ontario crime news.

Possible penalties and other consequences

Penalties depend on the offence, how the Crown proceeds, and your circumstances. Outcomes can range from a withdrawal or discharge to fines, probation, a conditional sentence served in the community, or jail. Bill C-5 repealed a number of mandatory minimum sentences, including for drug offences, and widened access to conditional sentences, but some minimums remain.

A conviction can also bring:

• A criminal record that may show up on background checks for jobs, volunteering and housing.
• Travel problems, especially crossing into the United States.
• Immigration consequences for permanent residents and other non-citizens, including possible removal.
• Driving prohibitions for impaired and dangerous driving offences.

For details on specific charges, see our offence guides. You can read the Criminal Code itself at laws-lois.justice.gc.ca.

Choosing a lawyer and paying for one

Before hiring a lawyer, it can help to ask:

• How much of your work is criminal defence in Ottawa courts?
• Who will handle my file and appear in court?
• Can you work with me in French or English?
• How do you bill, and what will the next steps cost?

Fees vary with the charge and how far the case goes, and are discussed at the first meeting. If your income is low, you may qualify for a certificate from Legal Aid Ontario. At the courthouse, duty counsel (lawyers available at court at no cost) can give basic help, such as on bail or a first appearance, even if you have not hired anyone yet.

If you are the complainant or victim

If someone harmed you, you can report it to police. Victim Services Ontario can offer support, information and referrals. If the accused was released with a no-contact condition, tell police if they break it. Victims can also get their own independent legal advice; you can request a free consultation as a victim.

Free, confidential consultation

Crime Canada is a news and data site, not a law firm, and does not give legal advice. When you fill in the form on this page or request a free consultation, your request goes to an independent criminal defence lawyer. The firm reviews it, and a lawyer contacts you to talk about your situation in confidence. There is no lawyer-client relationship until you and the lawyer both agree to work together.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a criminal lawyer in Ottawa cost?

It depends on the charge, how complex the evidence is, and whether the case resolves early or goes to trial. Lawyers bill in different ways, so ask about fees and what is included at your first meeting. If your income is low, you may qualify for a Legal Aid Ontario certificate, and duty counsel at the courthouse can give basic help at no cost.

Do I need a lawyer for a first offence?

You are not required to have one, but a first charge can still lead to a criminal record that affects work, travel and immigration. A lawyer can review the Crown's disclosure, check whether your rights were respected, and explain options such as withdrawal, diversion or a discharge where the facts support it. Getting advice early often gives you more choices.

Who prosecutes criminal charges in Ottawa?

In Ontario, police lay the charges and Crown attorneys of the Ministry of the Attorney General prosecute most Criminal Code cases. Federal drug charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act are prosecuted by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Most cases begin in the Ontario Court of Justice; some serious cases are tried in the Superior Court of Justice.

Can I have my criminal trial in French in Ottawa?

Yes. Under the Criminal Code, an accused person has the right to a trial in either official language, French or English. In a bilingual city like Ottawa, this matters to many people. Tell your lawyer early which language you prefer so the request can be made at the right time in the process.

What happens at my first court appearance in Ottawa?

The first appearance in the Ontario Court of Justice is usually brief. You or your lawyer confirm the charges, and the Crown begins providing disclosure, which is its evidence. You normally are not asked to plead that day. Missing the date can lead to an arrest warrant, so attend or arrange for a lawyer to appear for you if allowed.

What if I break a release condition?

Breaching an undertaking or release order is a criminal offence in itself and can lead to a new charge and possibly detention. If a condition is making it hard to work, live at home or care for family, do not ignore it. A lawyer may be able to ask the Crown or the court to vary the condition.