Unit 4 – Criminal Law Flashcards
Conditions for a crime
- The action must be considered immoral by most Canadians
- The person’s actions must cause harm to society or to an individual victim
- The harm caused must be serious
- The person must be punished by the criminal justice system
2 Elements of a crime
Actus Reus
- Guilty act
- Physical act involved in the crime
- Must be voluntary (no sleep walking, or treat/duress)
Mens Rea
- Guilty mind
- Deliberate intention to commit the act, with disregard for consequences
Mens Rea – 2 types of intent
General intent
- Intent to do an action solely for its own sake
- ex. punching someone cause you’re angry
Specific intent
- Person commits wrongful act to commit another one, has an ulterior motive
- ex. assaulting someone to steal their car
Involvement – the perpetrator
- Person who actually commits the crime
- Present at the scene of the crime
Involvement – aiding
- Helping the perpetrator commit a crime
- Don’t have to be present at the scene of the crime
Involvement – abetting
- Encouraging the perpetrator to commit an offence, without providing physical assistance
- ex. cheering on a fight
Involvement – counselling
- Involves advising, recommending, or persuading another person to commit a criminal offence
Involvement – accessory After the Fact
Knowingly receives, comforts, or assists a perpetrator in escaping from the police
Involvement – party to a common intention
Shared responsibility among criminals for any additional offences that are committed in the course of the crime they originally intended to commit
Attempt to commit a crime
- The intention to commit a crime, even when the crime is not complete
Conspiracy to commit a crime
An agreement between two or more people to carry out an illegal act, even if it does not actually occur
Arrest
Legally depriving someone of liberty by seizing or touching the person to indicate that he or she is in custody
Detention
Legally depriving a person of liberty for the purpose of asking questions, with or without physical restraint
First and second degree murder, manslaughter
First Degree
- Planned and deliberate, causes death
Second degree
- Not deliberate, didn’t include a police officer, wasn’t involved in another severe crime
Manslaughter
- Any culpable homicide not classified as murder or infanticide
Three levels of assault
Level 1
- Intentionally applying force, attempting or threatening force, etc.
- 5 YEARS MAX in prison
Level 2
- Assault with a weapon, causing serious bodily harm that has consequences for victim
- 10 YEARS MAX in prison
Level 3
- Aggravated assault that maims, disfigures, etc.
- 14 YEARS MAX in prison
Three levels of sexual assault
Level 1
- Most common; non-consentual touching of a sexual nature
- 10 YEARS PRISON MAX
Level 2
- Sexual assault with a weapon or threat of use of a weapon
- 10 YEARS PRISON MAX
Level 3
- Aggravated and violent; mains or disfigures victim
- LIFE IMPRISONMENT MAX