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Drugs are substances that change a person’s mental or physical state. They can affect the way your brain works, how you feel and behave, your understanding and your senses. This makes them unpredictable and dangerous, especially for young people.

The effects of drugs are different for each person and drug that have been used by the person.

It’s not hard to find drugs, and sometimes it may seem like everyone’s doing them or wanting you to do them. But as with anything that seems too good to be true, there are downsides (and dangers) to taking drugs.

People take drugs because:

Are curious and want to see what happens

Some want to fit in or feel pressured by their peers

To enjoy the effect on their body  for example, feeling excited and energetic, or relaxed and calm

It help them cope with situations  for example, reducing pain or relieving stress

They’ve have a drug dependency and need to keep taking them to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Legal and illegal drugs

Drugs can be:

• legal – for example, alcohol, caffeine, and Tobacco
• illegal – for example, cocaine or heroin.

Legal drugs

Some drugs – such as alcohol caffeine, and nicotine are legal but may be subject to restrictions based on age, location of use, driving and point of sale regulations.

We regulate and control the active ingredients in legal drugs:

• the alcohol content of drinks
• the milligrams of nicotine in cigarettes.

Illegal drugs

Other drugs such as cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin, are illegal. They are not subject to quality or price controls and the amount of active ingredient varies. A person using illegal drugs can never be sure of how strong the drug is, or what is actually in it.

Different batches of an illegally manufactured drug may have different amounts of the drug and other unidentified additives.

It is against the law to possess, use, make, import or sell illegal drugs. The penalties for drug offences vary depending on the age of the offender (adult or minor), type of drug, quantities involved, previous offences, and the state or territory in which the offence happened.

Illicit drugs

Illicit drugs include:

• illegal drugs
• prescription medicines that have been obtained illegally or are not being used for medicinal purpose
• other substances that are being used inappropriately – for example, sniffing glue or inhaling paint thinner.

When taken (usually by swallowing, inhaling, or injecting), abused drugs find their way into the bloodstream. From there, they move to the brain and other parts of the body. In the brain, drugs may intensify or dull the senses, change how alert or sleepy people feel, and sometimes decrease physical pain.

Commonly abused drugs include:

Alcohol

Amphetamines

Cocaine and Crack

Cough and Cold medicine

Depressants

Heroin

Inhalants

LSD

MDMA

Marijuana

Methamphetamine

Mushrooms

PCP

Criminal networks traffic a range of drugs including cannabis, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.  As international borders become increasingly porous, global abuse and accessibility to drugs have become increasingly widespread. Criminal lawyers saved many of the  loath handlers from entering into the deep gorge of drug trafficking.

This international trade involves growers, producers, couriers, suppliers and dealers. It affects almost all of our member countries, undermining political and economic stability, ruining the lives of individuals and damaging communities. The end-users and addicts are often the victims of a powerful and manipulative business.

As a report published by the Drug trafficking lawyers in Hamilton drug trafficking is often associated with other forms of crime, such as money laundering or corruption. Trafficking routes can also be used by criminal networks to transport other illicit products.

As criminals devise ever more creative ways of disguising illegal drugs for transport, law enforcement faces challenges in detecting such concealed substances. In addition, new synthetic drugs are produced with regularity, so police need to always be aware of new trends and products on the illicit market.

Weapons offences are taken very seriously in Ontario and throughout Canada. Conviction on some weapons charges can result in a mandatory three-year jail sentence. If you are charged with a weapons offence, you need a criminal defence lawyer who understands the laws and can effectively defend you against these charges.

Southern Ontario Gun Charges Lawyers

We understand how these charges can affect a person’s life, and we will work diligently to ensure that you do not lose your freedom or your rights due to a simple mistake or misunderstanding. There are many different types of weapons offences, such as:

• Careless storage of a weapon
• Prohibited possession of a weapon
• Possession of loaded firearm
• Prohibited firearm
• Restricted weapon
• Restricted ammunition
• Careless use of a weapon
• Pointing a firearm
• Use of a weapon during assault
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Concealing a weapon
• Drug offences involving weapons

The police are taking ever harsher action in weapons offence cases. The consequences of such allegations can be extremely severe. That is why it is important to seek legal help right away in case of such offence charges. Firearm & Weapons Offence Lawyer Hamilton is always available to assist you with anything needed. Our entire team is dedicated to providing excellent legal services to all those with allegations in this particular field of law.

Our criminal attorneys possess exceptional skills mastered over the years. We have litigated various firearm and weapons offence cases in our practice. This wealthy and diverse experience is one of our strongest sides. At the same time, we are well familiar with the latest developments in the field including the work of the Gun and Gang task force. This allows us to be highly flexible and well prepared for each cases. When this is combined with a strictly individual approach, all factors for achieving the desired result are present. Our high achievements present our abilities and skills in the best possible way.

Both the Criminal Code of Canada and the Firearms Act define a range of offences in this particular field including unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous person, tempering with a serial number and assault with a weapon. A weapon can be any object designed, used or intended to be used for causing injury or death or for threatening and intimidating a person. There are different types of penalties for the different offences in case of conviction, but they are all very serious. Given the gravity of the situation, it is important for you to turn to Firearm & Weapons Offence Lawyer Hamilton without wasting time. You will receive consultation as quickly as possible. One of our specialized lawyers will give you an overview of your situation and present the different options. You will have all the advice needed for making a choice.

With us, you will receive legal representation at all stages of the legal process no matter how long or complex it may be. At bail hearings, our core goal is to secure the release of our client at the most bearable terms. After this, your counselor and the support specialists who work on your case will build the strategy for your defence. The work begins with investigating the case in depth. The situation is analyzed for selecting the best legal instruments that will be used. The strategy will include different tactics for overcoming various types of obstacles that may arise.

Help Us Help You

Regardless of what we do, our advice to you will usually include the following:

• Don’t talk to the police: Since many people aren’t aware of the details of weapons laws, they may make incriminating statements about their weapons without realizing they’re doing so. Have a lawyer present when you talk to police.
• Don’t panic: Just because there is a weapons charge against you doesn’t mean that it’s going to stick. It may be used as a bargaining chip, to get you to plead to other charges out of fear of the weapons charge.
• Know your rights: Many of our clients are unaware that they are in violation of the law with regard to weapons. Others are unaware that there are defences available to their weapons charge. Weapons law is currently in a state of rapid change, and it may be difficult for most people to keep up with what those changes may mean to them.

Hiring an experienced lawyer as soon as possible is important when facing an offence related to guns or another type of weapon.

When a person hears the word “crime,” images of dead bodies or hapless victims being mugged in dark alleys easily come to mind. But violent crime isn’t the only form of crime. When high-flying corporate executives in expensive custom suits commit elaborate schemes for financial gain or a harmless-looking deliveryman charms the old man next door out of his retirement money, they’re guilty of nonviolent but equally serious crimes called “white collar crimes.”

White collar crimes such as insider trading, antitrust violations, counterfeiting, intellectual property theft, and credit card fraud may not involve violence, but their impact on individuals, society and even the economy can be debilitating. Bernie Madoff, for example, operated a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that victimized thousands of investors, while Bank of America contributed to the 2008 financial crisis by selling billions in troubled mortgage-backed securities.

Common Forms of White Collar Crimes

There are many types of white collar crimes, but the following are the most common:

Corporate Fraud

According to the FBI, the majority of the cases of corporate fraud they pursue involve falsification of financial information, insider trading, and schemes designed to conceal corporate fraud activities and impede the regulating bodies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission from conducting their inquiries.

Embezzlement

Embezzlement happens when a person entrusted by an employer or another person to handle money or property uses their position to misappropriate funds. An example of embezzlement is when an employee finds ways to funnel company money into their own bank account. Another is when a politician spends campaign funds for their personal expenses.

Ponzi Schemes

Named after Charles Ponzi, a con man who reportedly made $250,000 a day via his mail coupon fraud in the 1920s, a Ponzi scheme is a type of investment scam that promises high returns for little to no risk. People or organizations engaged in Ponzi schemes focus their efforts on attracting new investors to pay the older ones. The scheme falls apart when new customers stop coming in and the flow of new investments dry out.

Extortion

Extortion occurs when a person coerces an institution or another person into giving up property, money, or services. An example is when gangs force store owners to pay “protection” money. Another is when a blackmail victim pays money to keep someone from publicly divulging information that can potentially harm their reputation.

Bankruptcy Fraud

A person burdened by insurmountable debt can find relief by filing for bankruptcy. This relief, however, comes at the expense of creditors who can only receive a portion of the debtor’s nonessential assets (or assets not necessary to maintain a household and a job). So if a filer intentionally hides property when filling out bankruptcy paperwork, they can be accused of bankruptcy fraud.

NCU’s White Collar Crime Specialization

Northcentral University’s Doctor of Criminal Justice program teaches students how to collaborate, plan, organize, budget and carry out large-scale operations in law enforcement. Students will develop high-level skills in policies, risks and professional and ethical expectations in law enforcement, as well as generate and put into practice independent research methods.

According to Joe Irelan, NCU’s Associate Enrollment Advisor: “These programs can provide a lot of great knowledge to individuals that would like to get into the Police Department, working in the bank industry in the fraud department, or somebody who wants to work for Homeland Security.”

The program offers three areas of focus, namely:

• Homeland Security – With this specialization, students see the past, present, and future of controlling the United States borders.
• Policing Specialization – This field of focus teaches students effective police tactics, current issues with law enforcement, and how through leadership these same issues can be improved to protect U.S. citizens.
• White Collar Crimes – This explores the underground world of advanced accounting and fraud, insider trading, banking cross-selling, and advanced forensic accounting theories and practices.

What is domestic violence and abuse?

When people think of domestic abuse, they often focus on domestic violence. But domestic abuse includes any attempt by one person in an intimate relationship or marriage to dominate and control the other. Domestic violence and abuse are used for one purpose and one purpose only: to gain and maintain total control over you. An abuser doesn’t “play fair.” An abuser uses fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear you down and keep you under their thumb.

Domestic violence and abuse do not discriminate. Abuse happens within heterosexual relationships and in same-sex partnerships. It occurs within all age ranges, ethnic backgrounds, and economic levels. And while women are more often victimized, men also experience abuse—especially verbal and emotional. The bottom line is that abusive behavior is never acceptable, whether from a man, woman, teenager, or an older adult. You deserve to feel valued, respected, and safe.

Domestic abuse often escalates from threats and verbal assault to violence. And while physical injury may pose the most obvious danger, the emotional and psychological consequences of domestic abuse are also severe. Emotionally abusive relationships can destroy your self-worth, lead to anxiety and depression, and make you feel helpless and alone. No one should have to endure this kind of pain—and your first step to breaking free is recognizing that your relationship is abusive.

Signs of an abusive relationship

There are many signs of an abusive relationship, and a fear of your partner is the most telling. If you feel like you have to walk on eggshells around them—constantly watching what you say and do in order to avoid a blow-up—chances are your relationship is unhealthy and abusive. Other signs include a partner who belittles you or tries to control you, and feelings of self-loathing, helplessness, and desperation.

To determine whether your relationship is abusive, answer the questions below. The more “yes” answers, the more likely it is that you’re in an abusive relationship.

Physical and sexual abuse

Physical abuse occurs when physical force is used against you in a way that injures or endangers you. Physical assault or battering is a crime, whether it occurs inside or outside of a family. The police have the power and authority to protect you from a physical attack.

Any situation in which you are forced to participate in unwanted, unsafe, or degrading sexual activity is sexual abuse. Forced sex, even by a spouse or intimate partner with whom you also have consensual sex, is an act of aggression and domestic violence. Furthermore, people whose partners abuse them physically andsexually are at a higher risk of being seriously injured or killed.

Emotional abuse: It’s a bigger problem than you think

Not all abusive relationships involve physical violence. Just because you’re not battered and bruised doesn’t mean you’re not being abused. Many men and women suffer from emotional abuse, which is no less destructive. Unfortunately, emotional abuse is often minimized or overlooked—even by the person experiencing it.

The aim of emotional abuse is to chip away at your feelings of self-worth and independence—leaving you feeling that there’s no way out of the relationship, or that without your abusive partner, you have nothing.

Emotional abuse includes verbal abuse such as yelling, name-calling, blaming, and shaming. Isolation, intimidation, and controlling behavior are also forms of emotional abuse.

Abusers who use emotional or psychological abuse often throw in threats of physical violence or other repercussions if you don’t do as they want.

The scars of emotional abuse are very real and they run deep. You may think that physical abuse is far worse than emotional abuse, since physical violence can send you to the hospital and leave you with physical wounds. But emotional abuse can be just as damaging—sometimes even more so.

SEEK A LEGAL HELP

You will receive all the support that you require from your lawyer and from all other members of our team involved in your case. You will be excellently prepared for all hearings. We will do everything to boost your confidence as well. You will always be welcome to ask questions. Expect to receive detailed answers and full explanations without delay.

Your Domestic Assault Lawyer Hamilton will follow the initially set strategy and use their talent and skills to defend you in the best way possible. The focus will be on achieving the goals identified in advance. Rely fully on the hard work, knowledge and determination that the professional will put in.

Contact us to receive legal assistance for the domestic assault charges that you face.

After a person has been arrested and charged with a criminal offence the police may release that person from the scene or the police station.  However, depending on the nature of the allegations and the accused person’s criminal record, the police may hold the person for a bail hearing.

What is a Bail Hearing?

When an individual is arrested, they are generally released by the police back into the community as their case works its way through the court system. The law, however, recognizes that the safety of the public, and the proper functioning of the justice system may require an accused to remain in custody until their day in Court.

If the police do not release an individual after their arrest, an accused individual has the right to be brought to Court for a bail hearing. At a bail hearing, the accused person will have the opportunity to argue their case for release.

What Happens at Bail Hearings?

A Judge or Justice of the Peace have two options at a bail hearing. The accused can either be:

• Released on bail (subject to certain binding conditions) until their case is heard in Court or;
• Detained in custody pending the completion of their case.

Most bail hearings include the Crown informing the Court of the allegations made by the police. Hearings can include an accused person, or an accused person’s potential sureties, giving evidence on the witness stand to assist the Court in making a decision.  

In Canada, there is a constitutional right for every person to be released on bail pending trial unless there is just cause to hold them in custody.

The instances where an individual will be held without bail are narrow and pre-trial detention is unusual. However, if a Court finds an individual is a threat to the public, a flight risk or detention is necessary to maintain confidence in the administration of justice, an accused person may be held in custody.

WHY HIRE A BAIL LAWYER IN HAMILTON?

You need an experienced bail lawyer to help navigate your family and proposed sureties through the bail hearing process. An experienced bail lawyer will help your family prepare an adequate supervision plan and will assist your proposed sureties in their preparation to testify.

An experienced bail hearing lawyer is able to negotiate terms of release that will allow you to remain out of jail while waiting for trial.