The most fundamental principle in the Canadian criminal justice system is provided, and guaranteed by section 11(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This section states the following:

Any person charged with an offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law in a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal.

Many important legal principles governing how police can conduct their investigations, how the Crown can prosecute a case, and what evidence is admissible in a trial, can all trace their roots back to this important principle.

As a former police officer

Jake saw first-hand how this fundamental principle played out in our criminal justice system, and how powerful it can be.

As a defence lawyer