Should I plead guilty?
When you're charged with a crime, you can:
- ,
- , or
- complete a program or alternative measures, if the Crown agrees.
If you plead guilty, you will likely be and sentenced. You should not plead guilty if you did not commit the crime you've been charged with. Do not plead guilty until you've thought carefully about your options. Think about the Crown's case against you and what can happen if you plead guilty.
If you're not a Canadian citizen, you can lose your status or get removed from Canada if you are convicted of certain crimes. You should talk to a lawyer about the potential immigration consequences before pleading guilty.
You can only plead guilty if:
- you admit that you did the crime,
- no one is pressuring you to plead guilty, and
- you understand what might happen when you plead guilty.
If you plead not guilty, you will likely have a . You will only be sentenced if you're found guilty.
Pleading guilty to a crime is a serious decision. You should speak with a lawyer or before you decide.