R. v. J.T.J.

(Cochrane Court of Justice - Mischief). Human beings are sometimes frail, irrational creatures who sometimes do stupid things. The likelihood of irresponsible frailty increases when people have consumed intoxicants (such as drugs or alcohol). Courts across Canada routinely hear cases involving bad decisions after a night at the bar.  TJ's case was precisely this type of situation: too much alcohol, followed by a bad decision. TJ was charged with mischief for damaging property while drunk. 

TJ had a reasonable defence to the allegation. To that end, it was very questionable whether the Prosecution could identify TJ as the person who damaged the property. While there was video evidence, it was not perfectly clear. Having said that, it was the opinion of TJ's Cochrane criminal lawyer that the accused was in significant jeopardy of being convicted after trial. Thankfully for TJ our criminal justice system does not always respond with a heavy hand and as such, there are, for minor offences, non-criminal record paths to resolution. In TJ's case, the non-criminal record path was diversion through Alternative Measures. 

Alternative measures is a second chance program that may be available in response to minor infractions of the Criminal Code of Canada (or Controlled Drugs and Substances Act).  Minor mischief to property for first time accused often results in an Alternative Measures (AMP) referral. Once admitted into AMP, if the accused finishes the program, the charges will be withdrawn by the Crown. Once of the most significant advantage of AMP is that the accused can avoid the higher legal fees associated with trial.

David Chow is not only a full time practicing Calgary criminal lawyer, he is a Cochrane criminal lawyer who appears in jurisdictions throughout the Province of Alberta. David understands that defending a criminal case is both stressful, and even when managed in a cost effective manner, can be expensive. Most people do not anticipate the added costs of a legal defence. With that in mind, David Chow is one of many Calgary criminal lawyers who will try to navigate a criminal case with your best interests in mind (this includes your financial best interests). Do not trust a website, an advertisement or a Google review. To find the best Alberta criminal defence lawyer for you, inquire with more than one criminal defence lawyer who operates in the jurisdiction of your charge(s).