Immigration consequences of criminal dispositions and sentencing Prepared by Anthony Navaneelan, staff lawyer Refugee Law Office
[email protected] Contents . Duty to advise of immigration consequences at plea and sentencing . The need for immigration and legal advice for clients accused of a crime . Quick tips for criminal lawyers 2 Duty to advise of immigration consequences at plea & sentencing 3 Advising of immigration consequences when pleading guilty . Section 606(1.1) of the Code requires a court to accept a guilty plea only if “it is satisfied that the accused […] (b)(ii) understands the nature and consequences of the plea.” . R. v. T.(R.) (1992), 10 O.R. (3d) 514 (C.A.): “The plea must also be informed, that is the accused must be aware of the nature of the allegations made against him, the effect of his plea, and the consequences of his plea. […] By an understanding of the consequences of his pleas, I mean the realization that convictions would flow from his pleas, as well as an appreciation of the nature of the potential penalty he faced.” 4 R. v. Shiwprashad, 2015 ONCA 577 . The Ontario Court of Appeal (ONCA) was directly asked to decide whether counsel had a duty to advise his client of the immigration consequences of entering a guilty plea. ONCA strongly suggested that criminal lawyers have a duty to advise clients on the consequences of a plea and/or ensure they obtain immigration law advice prior to pleading. 5 R. v. Shiwprashad, 2015 ONCA 577 (2) . The ONCA cited the following authorities/sources (paras.