The Ladder Principle/Antic Ladder (The Rungs)
First: release with no conditions
Second: release order
Third: surety
Fourth: cash
Fifth: detention
Which Facts are Looked at When Determining Bail
1.) Nature of the offence
2.) Criminal record
3.) Risk to the community
4.) Case law
Primary Grounds for Detention
Attendance/Flight Risk
Secondary Grounds for Detention
Public Protection
Tertiary Grounds for Detention
Maintain confidence/positive image of the CJS
Bail Hearing Rule 1
Time: accussed is entitled to a bail hearing within 24 hours of arrest
Bail Hearing Rule 2
Evidence: strict rules of evidence don’t apply; any evidence that is trustworthy is credible
Bail Hearing Rule 3
Onus: who bears the burden of proof in the bail hearing
Reverse Onus
When the accused is automatically detained, the defence must prove why they should be on a lower rung
Reverse Onus Situations
Repeat violent offending and breach of conditions on probation
Burden of Proof in Bail Hearings
Balance of probabilities
Crown’s Turn in the Bail Hearing
Crown goes first:
1.) Intro
2.) State position
3.) Onus
4.) Outline relevant facts
5.) Enter exhibits
6.) Additional info
7.) Arguement
Defence’s Turn in the Bail Hearing
Defence goes second:
1.) Intro
2.) State position
3.) Confirm onus
4.) Context to facts and exhibits
5.) Additional info
6.) Arguement
Entering Exhibits (Crown Bail Hearing)
Showing the judge what the crime looked like (e.g., criminal record, bail documents, pictures, videos, and 911 calls)
Providing Additional Info (Crown Bail Hearing)
e.g., inputs from police or probation officers and any credible info available
Making Your Argument (Crown Bail Hearing)
1.) Why you took your position
2.) Draw in facts
3.) Explain why lower rungs aren’t possible
Presumption of Innocence Defence
Undermine the credibility of the crown’s evidence to create a reasonable doubt
Non-Cooperation of Witnesses Defence
Defence cannot interfere with witnesses, so just hope that the witness recants their statement or doesn’t show up
Witness Warrant
If the witness was subpoenaed and didn’t show up, the judge can issue an arrest warrant to bring them to the courtroom
Evidence Act (witnesses)
The crown can apply to cross-examine their own witness if the witness is being hostile and not giving their evidence
Alibi Defence
A statement saying you were elsewhere during the time of the offence (defence must give sufficient notice to the Crown in order to call an alibi)
Officially Induced Error Defence
If the accused was giving wrong info in good faith by an appropriate government official, then ignorance of the law is acceptable
Innocent Possession Defence
Possessing stolen or illegal material for lawful purposes. Must be planning on destroying it or delivering it to authorities - lacking mens rea of possession
Necessity Defence
Forced to engage in illegal activities to stop something worse from happening