Criminal Law Vocab Flashcards
A Latin phrase meaning “a wrongful deed”; the criminal act or omission to act, which with mens rea makes one criminally liable
actus reas
an approach based on two opposing sides, in which each side presents its case in court
adversarial system
the third most serious of three levels of assaults’ in criminal law; assaults’ that wounds, maims, disfigures or endangers the life of the victim
aggravated assaults’
a defence that the accused was in a different place, not at the scene of the crime, when it took place
alibi
to legally detain a person and charge him or her with a criminal offence
arrest
(the broad term for the 3 levels of assault) the first level of assault, specifically, the threat of or actual physical contact without consent or approaching or blocking a person while openly carrying a real or imitation weapon
assault
the second of the three levels of assault - assault the interferes with the victims health or comfort in a significant way or assault involving a real, threatened or imitation weapon
assault causing bodily harm
an effort or try; an act done with the intent to commit an offence
attempt
intention physical contact that is harmful or offensive to the other person; the completion of assault in tort law
battery
to enter another’s premises without permission by breaking or opening anything that is closed; also called burglary
break and enter
the penalty of death for committing a crime
capital punishment
information (evidence) that relates only indirectly to the alleged offence
circumstantial evidence
a penalty (sentence) for crimes in which penalties for two or more offences are served at the same time
concurrent sentence
a penalty (sentence) for crimes in which penalties for two or more offences are served one after another
consecutive sentence
any material, including both illegal drugs and drugs legally prescribed by doctors, listed in the controlled drugs and substances act
controlled substances
the body of public law, that declares acts to be crimes and prescribes punishment’s for those crimes
criminal law
want on and reckless disregard for the lives and safety of other people
criminal negligence
in criminal matters, the lawyer prosecuting on behalf of the crown and society; an agent of the attorney general
Crown Attorney
blamable or criminal homicide (the killing of another person), as in murder, manslaughter, infanticide
culpable homicide
a person who has committed serious personal injury and who meets certain criteria to be given this designation resulting in an undetermined sentence (designation similar to long term offender)
dangerous offender
the accused and his or her legal representatives; a reason or set of circumstances that might relieve a defendant of liability (e.g., the defence of mental disorder)
defence
the person charged with an offence
defendant
the act of keeping someone in custody; enforced delay
detention
information (evidence) given by a person who witness the event in question (e.g., testimony by a bystander)
direct evidence
a stage in proceedings for a trial by jury in which the crown attorney and the defence must meet to reveal all evidence; after which, charges would be dropped if the defence proves that the crown has no case
disclosure
being tried twice for the same offence, which is prohibited
double jeopardy
illegal coercion ; the threat or use of violence to force a person to do something against his or her will
duress