Chapter 6 - The Nature of Crime

Question 1

Crime

Answer 1

An act or omission of an act that is prohibited and punishable by federal statute.

Question 2

Criminal law

Answer 2

The body of laws that prohibit and punish acts that injure people, property, and society as a whole.

Question 3

Quasi-Criminal Laws

Answer 3

Laws covering less serious offences at the provincial or municipal level; most often punishable by fines.

Question 4

Actus Reus

Answer 4

“The guilty act” - the voluntary action, omission, or state of being that is forbidden by the Criminal Code.

Question 5

Mens Rea

Answer 5

A deliberate intention to commit a wrongful act, with reckless disregard for the consequences.

Question 6

Intent

Answer 6

A state of mind in which someone desires to carry out a wrongful action, knows what the results will be, and is reckless regarding the consequences.

Question 7

General Intent

Answer 7

The desire to commit a wrongful act, with no ulterior motive or purpose.

Question 8

Specific Intent

Answer 8

The desire to commit one wrongful act for the sake of accomplishing another.

Question 9

Motive

Answer 9

The reason a person commits a crime.

Question 10

Knowledge

Answer 10

An awareness of certain facts that can be used to establish mens rea.

Question 11

Criminal Negligence

Answer 11

Reckless disregard for the lives and safety of others.

Question 12

Recklessness

Answer 12

Consciously taking an unjustifiable risk that a reasonable person would not take.

Question 13

Willful Blindness

Answer 13

Deliberate closing of one’s mind to the possible consequences of one’s actions.

Question 14

Regulatory Laws

Answer 14

Federal or provincial statutes whose purpose is to protect the public’s welfare.

Question 15

Liability

Answer 15

Legal responsibility for a wrongful action.

Question 16

Strict Liability Offences

Answer 16

Offences that do not require mens rea but for which the accused may present a defence of due diligence.
i.e. Acme Waste Disposal Company did everything they could to not pollute the river

Question 17

Due Diligence

Answer 17

The defence that the accused took every possible precaution to avoid committing the offence.

Question 18

Absolute Liability Offences

Answer 18

Offences that do not require mens rea and for which the accused may not present a defence of due diligence.
i.e. Driving without a license

Question 19

Perpetrator

Answer 19

The person who commits the crime.

Question 20

Parties to an Offence

Answer 20

People who are indirectly involved in committing a crime.

Question 21

Aiding

Answer 21

A criminal offence that involves helping a perpetrator commit a crime.

Question 22

Abetting

Answer 22

The criminal offence of encouraging the perpetrator to commit an offence.

Question 23

Counselling

Answer 23

A criminal offence that involves advising, recommending, or persuading another person to commit a criminal offence.

Question 24

Accessory After the Fact

Answer 24

Someone who knowingly receives, comforts, or assists a perpetrator in escaping from the police.

Question 25

Party to Common Intention

Answer 25

The shared responsibility among criminals for any additional offences that are committed in the course of the crime they originally intended to commit.

Question 26

Attempt

Answer 26

The intention to commit a crime even if it is not actually committed.

Question 27

Conspiracy

Answer 27

An agreement between two or more people to carry out an illegal act even if it is not actually committed.