Legal Rights

LIFE, LIBERTY AND SECURITY OF PERSON

7.- Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the persons and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.

8.- Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure.

9.- Everyone has the right not to be arbitrarily detained or imprisoned.

a. to be informed promptly of the reasons therefor;

b. to retain and instruct counsel without delay and to be informed of that right; and

c. to have the validity of the detention determined by way of habeas corpus and to be released if the detention is not lawful.

11.- Any person charged with an offense has the right

a. to be informed without unreasonable delay of the specific offense;

b. to be tried within a reasonable time;

c. not to be compelled to be a witness in proceedings against that person in respect of the offense;

d. to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law in a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal;

e. not to be denied reasonable bail without just cause;

f. except in the case of an offense under military law tried before a military tribunal, to the benefit of trial by jury where the maximum punishment for the offense is imprisonment for five years or a more severe punishment;

g. not to be found guilty on account of any act or omission unless, at the time of the act or omission, it constituted an offense under Canadian or international law or was criminal according to the general principles of law recognized by the community of nations;

h. if finally acquitted of the offense, not to be tried for it again and, if finally found guilty and punished for the offense, not to be tried or punished for it again; and

i. if found guilty of the offense and if the punishment for the offense has been varied between the time of commission and the time of sentencing, to the benefit of the lesser punishement.

12.- Everyone has the right not to be subjected to any cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.

13.- A witness who testifies in any proceedings has the right not to have any incriminating evidence so given used to incriminate that witness in any other proceedings, except in a prosecution for perjury or for the giving of contradictory evidence.

14.- A party or witness in any proceedings who does not understand or speak the language in which the proceedings are conducted or who is deaf has the right to the assistance of an interpreter.