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Arrest and Detention / Legal Services
Canadian citizens visiting or living in the United States or Bermuda are expected to adhere to local laws. If, during your stay, you are suspected of violating the law, you may be arrested or detained.
Goverment of Canada Assistance
Access here general information on what Consular officials can do to assist Canadians who are arrested.
Access here a pamphlet, explaining the Consular role in arrest and detention.
If Arrested in the United States
The New York City Legal Aid Society offers an explanation of the legal process following an arrest. While outlined in general terms and based on a New York City experience, it provides both a useful overview of how the process of arrest develops and advice on what to do when arrested.
Finding a Lawyer
For criminal or civilian legal issues, consult the referral services of the American Bar Association or the local Bar Associations in Bermuda, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York City or New York State. For criminal arrests in the U.S. where individuals do not have sufficient funds, the court will appoint a Public Defender for the defendant.
The Canadian Consulate’s Consular Services Section also maintains a limited list of lawyers providing legal services in Connecticut, New Jersey, southern New York State, and Bermuda. This list is provided for convenience only and the Consulate does not accept responsibility for the competence or professional ability of persons or firms listed.
International Transfer of Offenders
Canadian citizens convicted of a crime in the U.S. or Bermuda and sentenced to a jail term may be eligible to apply for a transfer to Canada. A transfer would allow the serving of a sentence in a Canadian, rather than in an American or Bermudian, correctional facility.
