Criminal Law
Deals with offenses against society and seeks to punish and rehabilitate offenders, keep the peace, and protect people and property. It is the federal government's responsibility.
Summary Conviction Offenses
Minor criminal offenses, equivalent to misdemeanors in the USA.
Indictable Offenses
More serious criminal offenses, equivalent to felony crimes in the USA.
Hybrid Offenses
Offenses that can be charged as either summary or indictable, depending on the circumstances.
Crown
Represents society in criminal cases and must prove the accused guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Actus Reus
The criminal action, which must be proven against an accused to get a conviction.
Mens Rea
The criminal intent or guilty mind, which must also be proven against an accused to get a conviction.
Superior Court
The trial and appeal division for important criminal cases in each province.
Supreme Court of Canada
Hears appeals on points of law and ensures adherence to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Arrest
The police must have reasonable and probable grounds to arrest someone.
Rights of the Person Under Arrest
The police must advise those under arrest of their rights, listed in the Charter s. 11.
Powers of the Police
The police can use necessary force to prevent an escape and require a search warrant to search private residences.
Adversarial System
Our system of trial where two opposing sides present evidence to prove guilt or innocence.
Jury
Determines guilt or acquittal based on evidence presented in court.
Homicide
Different categories include 1st Degree, 2nd Degree, Manslaughter, Infanticide, and Negligent Homicide.
Assault and Sexual Assault
Different categories based on the severity of the attack.
Identity Theft
The rise of stealing personal information to harm others.
Fraud
Intentionally misleading others for financial gain.
Weapons
Categorized as non-restricted, restricted, or prohibited.
Prostitution
Legal in Canada, but soliciting and related activities are illegal.
Drug Laws
Found in the Criminal Code under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Impaired Driving
The main criminal cause of death in Canada.
Defenses
The accused's response to the criminal charge, including alibi, problems with eyewitness evidence, forensic evidence, and various legal defenses.
Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA)
Deals with how we handle youth from ages 12-17 in the criminal justice system, emphasizing rehabilitation and providing additional rights and programs for youth offenders.
Not Criminally Responsible
Insane Automatism
This type of automatism is linked to a disease of the mind.
If it can be proven that an accused person suffered from a mental disorder and as a result was incapable of knowing that what they were doing was wrong
Non-Insane Automatism
This type of Automatism is often referred to as “temporary insanity.”
Canadian courts have recognized that a person may enter such an impaired state as the result of any of the following: a physical blow, sleepwalking, consuming drugs, a stroke, severe psychological trauma, and other physical ailments
Provocation
action or speech that makes someone annoyed or angry, especially deliberately.
Duress
when someone is threatened or coerced to do something against their will.
the accused is forced to act as the result of a threat.
Necessity
accused persons claim they were forced to commit a criminal act because they were in danger themselves.
The Supreme Court has ruled that this defence may only be used in situations where there appears to be “imminent risk.”
Entrapment
If a police officer coerces or forces a person to commit a crime, the officer is guilty of entrapment.
If the accused can prove the police led them to participate in a crime, the court can dismiss the charges immediately.
Battered Woman Syndrome
a psychological condition caused by severe and usually prolonged domestic violence.
The main difference between battered woman syndrome (BWS) and the traditional definition of self-defence is the issue of imminent danger.
In a typical self-defence case, the danger is immediate.
With BWS, the danger may not be immediate but instead is constant.
1st Degree Murder
A murder that is planned and deliberate.
2nd Degree Murder
A murder that is not planned but was committed knowingly
Manslaughter
Killing another person without any malicious intent
Infanticide
the crime of killing a child within a year of its birth
Negligent Homicide
a crime where you commit some act of criminal negligence, and the act results in the killing of another person. While state laws slightly vary on the definition of “criminal negligence,” it is generally viewed as conduct where a person ignores a known or obvious risk or disregards the life and safety of others.
aiding
helping someone commit a crime
Abetting
Encouraging or instigating the crime
Counselling
Gives a resolution or information about the crime committed
Accessory after the fact
Helps a criminal escape by providing food, clothing, or shelter to the offender.
cannot be held criminally responsible for assisting int he escape of your spouse
Conspirator
Planned the crime