Charged With
Breaching Bail in Toronto?
A New Charge on Top of an Old One.
A failure to comply charge is a separate criminal offence that can jeopardize your existing release and add to your legal troubles. Legal Solutions Law Firm moves quickly to protect your liberty on both matters.
Toronto Failure to Comply Defence
Toronto Bail Breach Charges: One Missed Condition Shouldn't Derail Everything
A failure to comply with bail conditions charge under Criminal Code s.145 arises when someone released on bail is alleged to have breached one or more of their release conditions — whether a curfew violation, unauthorized contact, or missing a check-in requirement.
These charges are often the result of a minor, unintentional lapse rather than a deliberate disregard for the court's order — a missed check-in due to illness, a chance encounter that wasn't sought out, or confusion about the exact terms of a condition.
Legal Solutions Law Firm reviews the full circumstances of the alleged breach and works to protect both your existing release and resolve the new charge. Call or text 416-274-2222 for a free, confidential consultation.
The Crown must prove the breach was not reasonably excused. Illness, emergencies, and genuine confusion can all be relevant.
A new breach charge can put your original bail at risk. We act quickly to protect both matters.
We help clients fully understand their bail conditions to prevent further alleged breaches going forward.
Know your total cost upfront. No hourly billing, with flexible payment options available.
Real-World Scenarios
Common Bail Breach Scenarios We Handle
Failure to comply charges arise from a wide range of circumstances. Here are common scenarios we see across Toronto.
Missed Curfew
Arriving home after a curfew condition due to work, transportation issues, or a genuine emergency.
Accidental Encounter
A chance meeting with a protected party at a shared workplace, family event, or public location.
Missed Reporting Date
Failing to check in with a bail supervision program due to illness or a scheduling conflict.
Residence Condition Issue
A dispute over whether the accused was actually at their approved residence at the required time.
Device or Communication Breach
An allegation involving a prohibited phone, device, or online communication condition.
What We Handle
Failure to Comply Situations We Defend
We handle failure to comply charges arising from every type of bail condition and circumstance.
Our Approach
How We Defend Your Case
Call us right away — 24/7. A new breach charge requires immediate attention to protect your existing release.
A breach charge may require a fresh bail hearing on both the original and new matters. We move quickly to secure your release.
We investigate exactly how the alleged breach occurred and whether it was reasonably excused.
We obtain all evidence relating to the alleged breach to identify weaknesses in the Crown's case.
We negotiate directly with the Crown on both matters, working toward the most favourable combined resolution.
If necessary, we take the matter to trial and test whether the Crown can prove the breach was not reasonably excused.
Plain Language Legal Guide
Failure to Comply — Bail — What You Need to Know
A New Charge Threatens Your Existing Release
Being charged with a breach can result in a fresh bail hearing on your original matter, sometimes with a reverse onus requiring you to justify your continued release.
Acting quickly with skilled representation is essential to protect your liberty on both files.
"Reasonable Excuse" Is a Defence
The Crown must prove the breach occurred without a reasonable excuse. Illness, emergencies, transportation failures, and other legitimate circumstances can provide a valid defence.
We carefully investigate the full circumstances surrounding the alleged breach.
Chance Encounters vs. Deliberate Contact
Many "unauthorized contact" breaches arise from genuinely accidental encounters — running into someone at a shared workplace, family event, or public location.
These situations are very different from deliberately seeking out contact, and we build this distinction into your defence.
Understanding Your Exact Conditions
Bail conditions are sometimes poorly understood by the people bound by them, leading to unintentional breaches.
We make sure clients fully understand every condition to prevent further issues while their case proceeds.
Negotiated Resolutions
Many breach charges resolve through negotiation, particularly where the circumstances suggest a reasonable excuse or a genuinely minor, technical violation.
We work toward outcomes that protect both your original matter and the new charge.
Consequences of a Conviction
A breach conviction adds to your criminal record and can make securing bail more difficult in any future matter.
Given these stakes, addressing every breach allegation seriously is essential.
Know the Process
Where Your Case Is Heard — Toronto Courts
Failure to comply with bail conditions is typically heard at the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto, often alongside the original charge that gave rise to your release conditions.
Ontario Court of Justice — 10 Armoury Street
Toronto's criminal matters — including first appearances, bail hearings, and trials for summary and many indictable offences — are heard at 10 Armoury Street. This purpose-built courthouse opened in 2023, consolidating the criminal courts formerly split across Old City Hall and College Park into one 17-storey building, the largest courthouse in Ontario.
Superior Court of Justice — 361 University Avenue
More serious indictable matters and jury trials are heard at the Superior Court of Justice at 361 University Avenue, which houses both the Criminal and Family branches. This is a separate courthouse from 330 and 393 University Avenue, which handle Superior Court civil matters.
Know What's at Stake
Potential Penalties
Failure to comply with bail conditions is a hybrid offence, treated as a separate charge from whatever matter gave rise to the original release. The information below is general — your actual exposure depends on the specific facts of your case.
Maximum penalty of up to 2 years less a day in jail and/or a fine.
A higher maximum penalty applies where the Crown proceeds by indictment.
A new breach charge can trigger a fresh bail hearing on the original matter, sometimes with a reverse onus requiring you to justify continued release.
A conviction adds to your criminal record and can make securing bail more difficult in any future matter.
Understanding Your Options
Possible Case Outcomes — Best to Worst
Every criminal case can result in a range of outcomes. Our goal is always to achieve the best possible result — and in the vast majority of cases, that means no jail and no permanent criminal record.
Charged With Breaching Bail? Protect Both Matters Now.
A new breach charge can jeopardize your existing release. Legal Solutions Law Firm is available 24/7 — your consultation is always free.
Why Legal Solutions
Why Choose Our Toronto Bail Breach Defence Lawyers
Failure to comply charges require handling two matters at once — the original charge and the new breach allegation. Ryan Manilla has managed these combined situations at the Ontario Bar for over 15 years.
We move quickly to protect your liberty and resolve both matters as favourably as possible.
Client Testimonials
What Our Clients Say
I had a very positive experience with Legal Solutions Law Firm. Ryan represented me in a family court matter and provided excellent guidance and support throughout the entire process. He was professional, knowledgeable, and always took the time to answer my questions and explain everything clearly. Family court matters can be stressful, but Ryan helped make the process much easier and gave me confidence every step of the way. I truly appreciated his dedication, responsiveness, and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome. I highly recommend Legal Solutions Law Firm and Ryan to anyone looking for a compassionate and experienced family lawyer.
We tried to defend ourselves in civil court, but ultimately decided to hire Ryan — and it was the wisest decision we have made in the last two years of hell with our condo managers. Ryan and his team have been exceptional: swift, sharp, on the ball, and always asking the right questions while making the right arguments to move our case forward to the Superior Court.
Ryan did an outstanding job on my case. He was clear, professional, and always kept me informed. Thanks to his hard work, my charges were dropped. I’m very grateful and highly recommend him.
I wish I could add five more stars to show how happy we are with the legal services of Ryan J. Manilla and his team. They took charge of our legal matters, worked tirelessly on short notice, and delivered outstanding legal documents on time. Their teamwork, professionalism, patience, and understanding of our situation gave us tremendous peace of mind. Most importantly, we sleep better at night knowing that we are in good hands, with a legal team that has the expertise and compassion to handle sensitive matters with care.
I had a great experience working with Ryan at Legal Solutions. He is professional, responsive, and very knowledgeable. Any time I had questions, he got back to me quickly and provided practical advice. I wouldn’t hesitate to use him again.
I was going through anxiety not knowing what to expect with my case. Ryan explained everything simply and stood up for me at my hearing. I’m really thankful for his help!
I had such a stressful time trying to find legal help. I felt lost and hopeless when I got a notice to appear at the LTB. When I found Ryan, he stepped up and defended me. He’s knowledgeable about both the LTB and criminal law, and most importantly he’s tough! Exactly what I was looking for. I’m so glad I found him.
Ryan is a tough lawyer who defended us during a very difficult time. He helped me with a Landlord and Tenant Board issue. People told me to get a paralegal, but the ones I contacted either wouldn’t help or couldn’t communicate well in English. When I found Ryan, he explained the situation clearly and told me what to do. He showed up to the hearing tough and ready to go. I’m so glad I found him!
One of the best. Well poised, smart articulate. Know his stuff and one of the best lawyer out there to work with.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Defending Clients Across Toronto and the GTA
Our Reach
Serving Every Toronto Neighbourhood
From failure to comply — bail charges arising downtown to cases across the inner suburbs, Legal Solutions Law Firm defends clients throughout Toronto.
From My Experience: Breach Charges Are Often More About Circumstance Than Intent
A significant number of the failure to comply charges I've handled involve people who genuinely tried to follow their bail conditions but ran into a situation — an emergency, a scheduling conflict, an accidental encounter — that the law needed to account for.
Why "Reasonable Excuse" Deserves Real Attention
The law explicitly requires the Crown to prove a breach happened without a reasonable excuse, and I take that element seriously on every file. Illness, family emergencies, and genuinely unavoidable circumstances have resolved more than one breach charge I've handled.
The other pattern I see often is confusion about the exact conditions themselves — clients genuinely unsure whether a specific action was permitted. Part of my job, once a case is resolved, is making sure clients understand their conditions clearly going forward so this doesn't happen again. If you've been charged with a breach, call me immediately — protecting your existing release is the first priority: 416-274-2222.
Free Resources
Tools & Guides
Trying to understand how bail conditions work, or what happens next in your case? These free tools and guides can help:
Speak With a Failure to Comply Defence Lawyer Today
Charged with breaching your bail conditions? Contact Legal Solutions Law Firm immediately for a free, confidential consultation. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.