Criminal Lawyer in Richmond Hill: What to Do After a Charge

What to do right now if you were charged in Richmond Hill

Being arrested or charged is frightening, but you have rights, and a few early steps can protect them. Everyone charged with a crime in Canada is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

• Ask for a lawyer. Under section 10(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, you have the right to speak to a lawyer without delay after arrest or detention. Police must tell you about this right and give you a chance to use it.
• You can stay silent. You do not have to explain yourself to police. Anything you say, including to other people in a cell or on the phone, can be used as evidence.
• Follow your release conditions exactly. If you were released on an undertaking (a promise to police) or a release order from a court, read every condition: where you can live, who you cannot contact, places you must avoid. Breaking a condition is a separate criminal charge.
• Keep all your paperwork. Your release documents show your first court date and the charges. Keep them safe and bring them to any meeting with a lawyer.
• Do not miss your first court date. Missing it can lead to a warrant for your arrest and a new 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 Richmond Hill

In Ontario, police lay charges themselves. In Richmond Hill, that usually means York Regional Police. Once a charge is laid, the case is 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 serving York Region. The first appearance is usually short: you or your lawyer confirm the charges and receive or request disclosure.
2. Disclosure. The Crown must give you the evidence it has, such as police notes, videos, witness statements and test results. Your lawyer reviews it to find strengths and weaknesses.
3. The Crown's election. Many offences are "hybrid", meaning the Crown can choose to proceed summarily (less serious, lower maximum penalties) or by indictment (more serious). Since Bill C-75, the general maximum for a summary offence is two years less a day in jail.
4. Pre-trial meetings. Your lawyer may meet with the Crown and a judge to discuss the issues, possible withdrawal, diversion or other resolution.
5. Resolution or trial. A case may be withdrawn, resolved, or go to trial. Some serious indictable cases can be tried in the Superior Court of Justice, sometimes with a jury.

Simple cases can take a few months; complex ones can take much longer. The Charter protects your right to be tried within a reasonable time, and delay can sometimes become an issue your lawyer raises.

What a criminal lawyer can do for you

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

• Help at bail. Argue for your release, propose a plan or surety (a person who supervises you), and later ask to change conditions that keep you from home, work or family.
• Test the evidence. Look at whether the search, arrest or police questioning respected your Charter rights. Evidence obtained in breach of your rights may be excluded.
• Raise defences. Depending on the charge, this may include self-defence, lack of intent, mistaken identity, or problems with witness accounts.
• Handle driving charges. For impaired driving, a lawyer can review the breath or blood demand and testing. Ontario also imposes a 90-day Administrative Driver's Licence Suspension (ADLS) and vehicle impoundment, which are separate from the criminal case.
• Explore alternatives. In some cases, diversion, a peace bond or a withdrawal may be possible.
• Speak for you at sentencing. If there is a finding of guilt, a lawyer can present your background and argue for the least harmful outcome.

Crime in Richmond Hill: what the numbers show

These figures are Statistics Canada police-reported data (table 35-10-0177) for the York Region police service area, which includes Richmond Hill. They cover the whole region, not only the city.

Year	Violent crime rate per 100k (York Region)	Property crime rate per 100k (York Region)
2016	517.4	1,502.1
2019	645.96	1,823.97
2022	812.1	1,924.42
2023	996.23	2,341.72
2024	968.78	2,087.27
2025	956.56	1,984.26

In 2025, police recorded 12,425 violent incidents and charged 3,472 people, a rate of 956.56 per 100,000. That is below the Ontario rate of 1,077.77 and the Canada rate of 1,443.25. The violent rate nearly doubled from 2016 to a peak in 2023, then eased slightly.

Property crime followed a similar path: 25,774 incidents and 2,855 people charged in 2025, a rate of 1,984.26, down from 2,341.72 in 2023 and below Ontario (2,599.56) and Canada (3,140.55).

For the wider Toronto census metropolitan area, the 2025 Crime Severity Index was 54.99 overall and 71.57 for violent crime, down 7.47% from the year before (Canada's index was set at 100 in 2006). See more on crime statistics for Richmond Hill and in our Ontario crime news.

Possible penalties and other consequences

Penalties depend on the offence, whether the Crown proceeds summarily or by indictment, and your circumstances. Possible outcomes include an absolute or conditional discharge, a fine, probation, a conditional sentence served in the community, or jail. Bill C-5 removed several mandatory minimum sentences and widened access to conditional sentences, though some minimums remain, including for impaired driving.

A conviction can also mean:

• a criminal record that can affect jobs, volunteering and professional licences;
• trouble entering the United States and other countries;
• immigration consequences for permanent residents and other non-citizens, including possible removal;
• driving prohibitions for driving offences.

Read the details for specific charges in our offence guides, and the Criminal Code itself at laws-lois.justice.gc.ca.

Choosing a lawyer and paying for one

Before hiring anyone, it can help to ask:

• How often do you handle charges like mine in York Region courts?
• What are the possible outcomes, and what could go wrong?
• Who will appear for me at each court date?
• How do you charge, and what does it include?

Fees vary with the charge and how complex the case is, and are discussed at the first meeting. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may qualify for help from Legal Aid Ontario. Duty counsel, lawyers available at the courthouse, can also give you basic help on the day of court, including at bail.

If you are the complainant or victim

If you were harmed, you can report to police, and Victim Services Ontario can offer support and information. If the accused was released with no-contact conditions, tell police if those conditions are broken. You can also get your own legal advice: request a free consultation for victims.

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 information goes to an independent criminal defence lawyer. The firm reviews it, and a lawyer contacts you to discuss your situation. There is no lawyer-client relationship until you and the lawyer both agree to one.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts; speak with a lawyer about yours.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a criminal lawyer in Richmond Hill cost?

It depends on the charge, how complex the evidence is, and whether the case goes to trial. Lawyers charge in different ways, so ask about fees and what they cover at the first meeting. If money is tight, you may qualify for Legal Aid Ontario, and duty counsel at the courthouse can give basic help on court days, including at bail.

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, travel problems or immigration consequences. A lawyer can review the disclosure, check whether your Charter rights were respected and tell you whether options like diversion or a withdrawal may be possible. Outcomes depend on the facts, so getting advice early often helps.

Who prosecutes criminal charges in Richmond Hill?

In Ontario, police lay charges themselves, 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 start in the Ontario Court of Justice, and some serious cases go to the Superior Court of Justice.

What happens at my first court date?

The first appearance is usually brief. You or your lawyer confirm the charges, receive or ask for disclosure of the Crown's evidence, and set the next date. You normally do not decide the case that day. Do not miss it: failing to attend can lead to a warrant and a new charge. Bring your release papers.

Can my bail or release conditions be changed?

Often, yes. If a condition keeps you from your home, job or children, a lawyer can ask the Crown to agree to a change or bring an application to the court. Until a change is officially made, you must follow the conditions exactly, because breaching them is a separate criminal offence.

Will a criminal charge affect my immigration status or travel?

It can. A conviction may cause problems for permanent residents and other non-citizens, including possible removal for serious offences, and can make entering the United States difficult. Even a charge without a conviction can raise questions at the border. Tell your lawyer about your immigration status early so it can be considered in every decision.