24/7 URGENT RESPONSE • 10 ARMOURY ST EXPERTS
If a family member has been arrested, immediate action is critical. We provide urgent representation at 10 Armoury Street (Toronto’s new courthouse) and all GTA courts, negotiating directly with Crown Attorneys and Justices of the Peace to secure consent releases.
A bail hearing (legally called a “Show Cause Hearing”) is the most critical step in a criminal case. It determines whether your loved one fights their charges from home or from a jail cell. In Toronto, these hearings move quickly—often occurring within 24 hours of arrest.
The hearing is conducted before a Justice of the Peace. The Crown Attorney (prosecutor) reads the allegations. The Defence must then present a release plan. If the plan is solid, the Justice of the Peace may order a release. If not, the accused is ordered detained.
In many cases, an experienced lawyer can negotiate a Consent Release with the Crown before court even starts, avoiding a risky contested hearing.
To secure a release, we typically need to present a comprehensive supervision plan. This almost always involves a Surety.
A surety is a responsible person (usually a family member or close friend) who attends court and promises to supervise the accused. They act as a “civilian jailer” in the community.
The surety must sign a “Recognizance”—a legal pledge to the court. They promise a specific sum of money (e.g., $5,000) to the Crown. If the accused flees or breaches conditions, the surety may lose this money.
In the vast majority of Ontario cases, no cash is deposited upfront. Instead, the surety signs a “no-deposit” recognizance. You only pay if the bond is forfeited due to a breach.
No. Canada does not use the American “bail bondsman” system. You do not pay 10% to a bonding agent. Charging a fee to be a surety is actually a criminal offence in Canada.
Bail must be reasonable. If a family has limited assets, we argue for a lower pledge amount or a release on the accused’s “Own Recognizance” without a surety.
Legal Fees: We offer clear block-fee pricing for bail hearings and accept Legal Aid Ontario certificates.
Under the Criminal Code, a Justice of the Peace can only deny bail on three specific grounds:
Primary
Flight Risk
Concern that the accused will not attend court.
Secondary
Public Safety
Concern that the accused will re-offend or endanger the public while on release.
Tertiary
Confidence in Administration of Justice
Detention is required due to the gravity of the offence or strength of the Crown's case (often for very serious charges like firearms or homicide).
When released, the accused must follow strict rules (“terms of release”). Common conditions include:
Violating these conditions is a criminal offence (Breach of Recognizance) and usually leads to immediate re-arrest.
We appear regularly at the new Toronto courthouse and know the expectations of the presiding Justices.
We fight to get the Crown to agree to release without a hearing, saving you stress and risk.
We prepare your family for harsh cross-examination to ensure they don’t get “tripped up” in court.
Arrests happen at night and on weekends. We answer the phone immediately.
If bail has already been denied by a Justice of the Peace, you cannot have another hearing in the same court. You must launch a Bail Review appeal in the Superior Court.
No. Many people are released from the police station on a “Form 10 Undertaking”. If the police refuse to release you, you must be brought before a Justice of the Peace for a bail hearing within 24 hours.
The Court weighs the “Ladder Principle.” They must release the accused on the least restrictive conditions possible unless the Crown shows cause why a stricter form of release (or detention) is necessary.
Typically one strong surety is sufficient. However, for very serious charges or if the primary surety has work commitments, the court may require two sureties.
In Canada, financial inability cannot be the sole reason for detention. If you cannot pledge a large sum, we argue for a lower amount or a non-financial form of release.
We provide immediate bail representation in:
Toronto
Scarborough
North York
Etobicoke
Brampton (Peel)
Newmarket (York)
Oshawa (Durham)
Ontario
