Consequences of Charge or Conviction

The consequences of being charged or convicted of a criminal offence will vary from person to person. Sometimes professional regulations or collective agreements expose their members to additional complications. Members of the teaching profession, for example, will find that law enforcement authorities are statutorily bound to report the laying of the charge to the teacher's employer, and some collective agreements allow employers to take employment action against a union member who has been charged (but not tried or convicted) with a criminal offence.

The stigma of being charged with an offence may endure, even after a finding of not guilty. In some cases we can intercede with the Office of Crown Counsel to see that the charges laid are the minimum charges appropriate to the circumstances, and help the client avoid the stigma of being charged with a more serious offense.

If they are tried and convicted, a criminal record can block people from employment opportunities in fields which require them to be bonded or to have a clean criminal record. Those opportunities will range from directorships in publicly traded companies, to employment in the education and childcare fields, or in fields which require them to be bonded such as security or casino work. By intervening early, we can help. Contact us.