Offences, Defences, Sentencing Flashcards
What are the two categories of law?
1) substantive
2) procedural
What are the elements of crime?
Mens Rea: intent
Actus Rea: action
What is substantive law?
A category of domestic law that defines the rights, duties, and obligations of citizens and government.
What is procedural law?
Law that prescribes the methods of enforcing the rights, duties, and responsibilities of substantive law.
What is the crown attorney?
Also known as the prosecutor.
The lawyer representing the governments interests in prosecuting criminal offenders.
What is a defense counsel?
The lawyer who represents the defendants interests.
What is arraignment?
The first stage of a criminal trial in which the court clerk reads the charges an the defendant enters a plea.
What is a summary offense?
- less serious
- maximum punishment is 6 months in prison and/or a $2000 fine
Eg. Parking ticket or having open alcohol in public.
What is a hybrid offense?
-crown prosecutor decides whether summary or indictable charge
-also called dual procedure offense
Eg. Soft drugs
What is an indictable offense?
-most serious
-maximum penalty is life in jail without parole
Eg. 1st degree murder
What Is a quasi-criminal offense(dual offense)?
-provincial laws
Eg. Highway traffic act, speeding tickets.
What is the trial system?
1) offense
2) arrest
3) bail hearing
4) preliminary hearing
5) jury selection
6) opening submissions
7) examinations
8) cross examinations
9) summations
10) jury deliberations
11) verdict
12) sentencing
13) community service, probation, fine, incarceration
What happens in step 1, offense, of the trial procedure?
Decides if it’s summary, indictable or hybrid.
Why happens during the arrest?
- officer identifies himself
- touches the person
- informs the person that he is under arrest
- states the charge
- informs the person of his rights
What happens during the bail hearing?
- happens within 24 hours of arrest
- may be denied bail
- 3 types of bail:
1) recognizance
2) cash
3) surety
What happens in the preliminary hearing?
The crown must show that there is enough evidence to go to trial
What happens during the jury selection?
- 12 jurors for a criminal trial
- 6 jurors for a civil trial
- decision must be unanimous
What happens during the opening submissions?
The crown and defense tell the court what they intend
What happens during examinations?
The crown goes first. The defense follows.
What happens during cross examinations?
- each side examines the other’s witnesses
- they attempt to discredit the testimony of the other side
What happens during summations?
The crown and the defense sum up and give their final plea to the jury
What happens during jury deliberations?
The judge charges the jury. Sometimes the jury is sequestered
What is the verdict?
-guilty
-not guilty
-hung jury
He decision of the jury must be unanimous.
What happens during sentencing?
- the judge listens to the suggestions of the crown and the defense
- the judge uses the criminal code of Canada as a guideline
- if the sentence is two years or more the criminal goes to a federal penitentiary
- less than two years the criminal goes to a provincial reformatory