On the first day Ontario’s new cash bail system came into force, a Toronto defence lawyer found himself arguing for what he called “the only realistic number” his client could afford: one dollar.
The accused — a man with mental health issues, no criminal record, limited means and his presumption of innocence still intact — was facing one count of mischief for minor property damage. He was deemed releasable by both the Crown and the court. Under the old system, he would have been granted a standard $250 to $500 recognizance — a nominal pledge, with no money handed over, that the province could later decide whether to pursue if he violated his conditions of release.
