Sociology 327 Midterm 1

Criminal Code of Canada

A federal statute that lists the criminal offenses and punishments defined by parliament as well as justice system procedures

Antisocial Behaviour

Conduct that can be disruptive and reduce our quality of life, but might not be considered a criminal act

Informal Antisocial Control

When people conform to the law and other social norms because of the actions and opinions (praise, disapproval, etc.) of other individuals

Norms

Standards of acceptable behavour that are based on tradition, customs, and values

Public Law

A type of law addressing matters that affect society, such as responding to a person who commits a criminal act

Private Law

Legal matters that relate to the relationships between individuals or businesses that involve contracts

Jurisdiction

The range of a government's or courts authority (Ex: provinces have ajurisdiction over non-criminal traffic matters)

Malum in Se

An act that is universally considered by the public as being evil or harmful to society, such as homicide

Malum Prohibitum

An act that is defined as illegal or wrong by a government, but is not considered wrong in itself, such as speeding on a highway

Summary Offences

Crimes that carry a less serious punishment, in which judges can impose a jail sentence of up to 6 months and/or a maximum fine of $5,000

Indictable Offences

Serious offences, such as homicide, where the defendants must appear in court and cases are heard before federally appointed judges

Dual Offences

Offences that can be prosecuted as either summary offences or indictable offences

General Social Survey

An annual survey of Canadians that is conducted by statistics Canada about a range of social trends, where each annual survey addressing one theme in depth

Contract Policing

A form of policing where a police service, such as the RCMP or OPP, provides policing to a municipality under a contract

Inferior Courts

Provincial and territorial courts that have limited jurisdiction and deal with less serious adult and youth criminal matters, as well as civil, family, traffic, and municipal bylaw cases

Supreme Court of Canada

The highest court in Canada; it only hears cases that are being appealed out of a lower court

Jails

Facilities where individuals are held awaiting their court appearances (called provincial correctional centres in most provinces, but jails in Ontario)

Detention Centres

Facilities where individuals are held awaiting their court dates or serving short periods of incarceration (called provincial correctional centers in some provinces)

Correctional Centres

Facilities that hold inmates sentenced to terms of incarceration of two years or less

Special Handling Units

High-security units within a maximum-security penitentiary where the movement of prisoners is very controlled

Day Parole

A type of release for federal prisoners who live in a community-based facility and usually work, attend school, or participate in treatment during the day

Probation Officers

Provincial officials who prepare reports for the courts about sentencing options for individuals convicted of crimes and monitor their activities (if serving community-based sentences)

Parole

A form of conditional release from a federal correctional facility to the community, where the ex-prisoner is supervised by a parole officer

Statutory Release

A form of supervised release that is automatically granted after federal prisoners with determinate sentences of three years or longer have served two-thirds of their sentences (does not apply to dangerous offenders or lifers serving indeterminate sentences)

Secure Custody Facilities

High-security youth custody facilities that are usually large and often look similar to adult correctional centres (also known as closed custody facilities)

Open Custody Facilities

Low-security youth custody facilities that are generally small and are sometimes located in residential neighbourhoods

Sequencing

The treatment of people involved in the justice system follows a set pattern that is dictated by law and policy

Alternative Measures Programs

Programs that divert individuals involved in minor crimes, such as property offences, from the formal justice system and usually require the individual to participate in community service work, make restitution to victims, attend counselling, or make an apology to victims

Extrajudicial Sanctions

Alternative measures programs for youth

Restitution

When an individual makes a payment to the victim for the losses that were experienced by the victim, such as property damage or loss

Plea Agreement

An agreement arranged by a defendant’s counsel and a prosecutor that usually involves the accused pleading guilty in return for a less serious punishment

Dangerous Offenders

Individuals who the court has deemed to be a threat to the life, safety, or physical/mental well-being of the public

Crime Control Model

An approach to justice that is based on the philosophy that it is more important to protect society than the rights of any individual

Assembly-line Justice

An approach to justice where a priority is placed on quickly processing minor matters in criminal courts with the assumption that most defendants are guilty

Due Process Model

An approach to justice that is based on the philosophy that the justice system needs to protect the rights of a defendant