CRIM2304 - Canadian Criminal Justice System Final Exam

what are the strengths of criminal law in canada?

• charter ensures rights and freedoms to citizens

• rule of law

what are the weaknesses of criminal law in canada?

• reactive system

• equal applications of law are challenging

what are two things you would change about policing in canada, and why?

• more training for mental health/drug crises

• more accountability for police

what are two things you would change about courts in canada, and why?

• lack of diversity

• limited access to problem solving courts

what are the main strengths of corrections in canada?

• some resources for mental health/addictions issues

• some focus on rehabilitation

• some focus on due process

what are the main weaknesses of corrections in canada?

• overcrowding

• health and safety issues

• tensions between prisoners/groups

• prisonization/institutionalization

• no status restoration after release

describe the principles of criminal law

• mens rea + actus reus

• laws cannot be applied retroactively

• citizens are expected to be familiar with the law

• right to remain silent

• no one can be tried twice for the same offence

what is law?

• formal, concrete rules

• maintain order and regulate behavior

• can be enacted, repealed, and modified

what is justice?

• abstract concept based on fairness, morality, and equality

• produce equitable outcomes and address social injustices

• universal value, but can have different interpretations

what are the similarities between law and justice?

• differ based on cultural norms and traditions

• both involve equity

peel’s principles of policing

• prevent crime and disorder

• require public approval, cooperation, and respect

• limit use of unnecessary physical force

• impartiality

• police are the public/public are the police

• police can’t undermine judges

• ensure absence of crime and disorder

mcc report on the principles of policing

• improve public safety and well-being

• carry out tasks in ways that contribute to social cohesion

• treat everyone with fairness and respect

• answerable to law and democratically responsive

• balance between effectiveness, cost-efficiency, accountability, and responsiveness

• informed by the best available evidence

• public good

similarities between peel’s principles and mcc report

• police must have cooperation with and approval from the public

• police have a relationship with the public

detasking police

• critical perspective

• community based crisis intervention/responses to mental health calls

• reduce police funds

• remove officers from schools

• focus on root causes of crime

• reduce policing of drugs/promote harm reduction

defunding police

• radical perspective

• reform police practices

• reduce police power and scope

• drastic decrease in police budget

similarities between detasking and defunding police

• more community based policing

• reduce police funds

radical perspective

police protect the interests of the ruling class and are not politically neutral

critical/social contract perspective

police are politically neutral, they enforce the law and protect the public

compare and contrast the roles of the defence and crown