3 Things You Should NEVER Do if Charged with Assault in Calgary

Charged with assault in Calgary? A dedicated defence lawyer gives a few words of caution.

Assault is a far more serious crime than many in Calgary imagine. Not only can an assault charge itself be hugely disruptive, potentially affecting your ability to be with your family, to do your job, and to live your life as you intend, but a conviction can lead to years of your time spent in jail. Your future depends on how you handle your defence, and it's all too easy to step out of line as far as the Calgary courts are concerned.

If you've been charged with assault in the Greater Calgary Area, here are three mistakes you don't want to make.

1. Don't Argue with the Calgary Police About Your Charge or Your Case
The Calgary Police and the RCMP and other law enforcement officers/agencies, for that matter, don't have the power to adjudicate cases. In other words, they aren't judges they aren't really there to determine if you committed a crime or not. If they have reasonable cause to believe you committed a crime and they place you under arrest, it is pointless to argue with them. You'll only hurt your case and your defence.

Comply with all lawful requests made by a police officer, and say as little as possible. Remember, aside from identifying yourself and answering a few other basic questions, you have the right to consult with a lawyer before saying anything to law enforcement.

2. Don't Contact the Assault Complainant On Your Own
Many assault charges involve someone the accused knows personally: a friend, family member, or romantic partner. Because of their existing relationship, many in Calgary who are accused of assault feel confident that they can resolve the issue by speaking directly to the person they allegedly assaulted often called the complainant.

Do not do this. You are more likely to find yourself facing additional charges and/or having more evidence against you in your initial assault charge. It may not be up to the complainant to drop the assault charge, either. Once the Crown prosecutors have the case, they can decide to proceed if they believe they have sufficient evidence.

3. Don't Underestimate the Seriousness of a Calgary Assault Charge
This was touched on in the introduction, but it bears repeating. An assault charge is very serious, and a conviction can mean years of your life in jail and thousands of dollars in fines and restitution. Don't make the mistake of thinking a "minor dispute" will be settled without much law enforcement hassle by the time an assault charge has been filed, things have already moved well beyond that point.

DO Contact a Calgary Defence Lawyer IMMEDIATELY

One thing you can do to help your defence is partner with a trusted, experienced, compassionate Calgary defence lawyer who will put your rights and interests first. The Calgary Police and Crown prosecutors deal with the criminal justice system every day; you deserve a legal professional with the same level of dedication on your team.

For a free initial consultation, please contact my office today.