crimes of morality

Question 1

3 relationships between moral and criminal wrongs

Answer 1

A. some wrongs are not criminal wrongs
B. some criminal wrongs are not moral wrongs
C. There is overlap between moral wrongs and criminal wrongs

Question 2

ex. of crimes of morality

Answer 2

-Subject to ongoing debate/discussion w/ respect to legal status
-Sex work
-Porn
-Gambling
-Drug use
-Certain sexual acts
-Polygamy
-Assisted suicide/euthanasia
-Abortion
-And others

Question 3

legal status and crimes of morality

Answer 3

Legal status = dependent on current state of societal morals and values
–> Fluctuate and change over time

E.g. canada’s legalization of:
Homosexuality (1969)
Same-sex marriage (2005)
Marijuana (2018)

Question 4

How much influence does (or should) the government have in determining what actions should be legalized?

Answer 4

Sex work and prostitution in Canada
-In 2014 Canada make it illegal to purchase or advertise sexual services
-And illegal to live on the ‘material benefits from sex work’
-Decision justified by arguing prostitution was a form of sexual exploitation
-One that disproportionately and negatively impacted at risk women and girls
-Stirred considerable debate
-Particularly given the complex, changing, and hard-to-debate nature of sex work

Question 5

Drug use in Canada:

Answer 5

• While cannabis was legalized in Canada in 2018, the legal status of other recreational drugs is debated.
• Heroin, cocaine, ecstasy/MDMA, magic mushrooms, etc.
• The addictive and/or harmful properties of these substances has been used as justification for their continued illegality.
• However, some argue that we should move toward legalizing (or at least de-criminalizing) these substances as well.