1. Decide if you should agree to a peace bond
Question & Answer
Should I sign a peace bond in my criminal case?The Crown may offer you a to deal with less serious criminal charges like minor , , and . The Crown will offer to withdraw or stay your charges if you agree to the peace bond.
Consider your options
Here are some reasons a peace bond may be a good option for you:
- You do not go to .
- You will not be of a crime if you follow the conditions in the peace bond.
Here are some reasons a peace bond may not be a good option for you:
- You must follow the conditions in the peace bond for as long as it’s active, which is usually 1 year.
- You do not agree with a condition of the peace bond. If you are charged with breach of a condition, you usually cannot defend the breach by arguing that you did not agree with the condition.
- While it’s active, the peace bond appears on specific types of police record checks.
- The peace bond may stop you from volunteering or working with vulnerable people. For example, you may not be allowed to work with children or senior citizens.
When you agree to a peace bond, you are not admitting that you committed an . But, you must be willing to admit to the court that it is reasonable for the to be afraid of you. If you’re not willing to do this, you can’t agree to the peace bond.
A lawyer or can help you:
- Understand what a reasonable fear is. It doesn’t mean you necessarily did anything against the law.
- Decide if a peace bond is a good way to deal with your criminal charges.
Go to trial
If you decide to go to trial instead, there is a chance you will be convicted of a crime. This can happen even if the against you seems weak. This is why you might want to consider a peace bond as an option to the risk of a trial.
If you don’t agree to the peace bond, the Crown will likely continue their case against you. You can:
- , or
- set a trial date and .
Talk to a lawyer or before you decide to plead guilty or set a trial date.
