1. Criminal Offences

2. Reasons for Crime
Several factors have been found to be related to the cause of criminal behaviour. Can you name some?
Research has shown that the factors listed below have impact on criminal behaviour.
Poverty
Recidivism (repeat offenders)
Emotional Stress
Mental disturbance
Drug and alcohol abuse
Violence in the home
Lack of education
Rank the above factors in terms of their significance in contributing to criminal behaviour.

3. Research suggests… Poverty Drug and alcohol abuse Violence in the home
Mental disturbance
Emotional stress
Lack of education
Recidivism

4. Levels of Offences Summary Offences: Minor offence
Carries a relatively light sentence (Fined up to $ or up to 6 months in jail)
Usually proceeds through court system fairly quickly
Tried in Provincial Court
Accused does not have to appear in court but can be represented by a lawyer

5. Levels of Offences (Page 222 Figure 9.2)

6. Levels of Offences Indictable Offence:
Serious crime; carries a heavier penalty than summary offence
Criminal Code establishes minimum and maximum penalties for indictable offences depending on the crime
Most indictable offences are tried in the Superior Court of the Province, BUT if the maximum penalty is less than 5 years in prison, then it will be heard in Provincial Court by a Judge only.

7. Levels of Offences Hybrid Offences
Is an offence that the Crown can decide to try either as a summary conviction or an indictable offence
Always treated as indictable until charges are laid in court
Crown’s decision often depends upon the circumstances of the case (such as: Repeat offender? Violence involved? Is the accused remorseful?)

8. Hybrid Offence: Example
Connie has been charged with theft of CDs worth $100. She has never been arrested before and has a steady job. In this case, the Crown may decide to proceed on a summary basis and receive a light penalty such as a fine. What might this be suitable?
If Connie had a long record of arrests for theft and if she had stolen thousands of dollars worth of CDs, then the offence would have likely been categorized as indictable and Connie might have been making her way to the big house!

9. Chart: Types of Offences (page 223 Figure 9.3)

10. Case: R. v. Quinlan (Page 224)
Section 334 of the C.C.C. states:
…everyone who commits theft
Is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, where… the value of what is stolen exceeds five thousand dollars or;
Is guilty
(i) of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or
(ii) of an offence punishable on summary conviction, where the value of what is stolen does not exceed five thousand dollars.
Did Quinlan commit a summary, indictable or hybrid offence? Explain.
If the payment had been less than $5000, what type of offence would Quinlan have committed?

11. Summary, Indictable or Hybrid?
Sheet: Guess is each case is a summary offence, an indictable offence or a hybrid offence

12. In Canada about 1 in 10 people have a criminal record
Fast Fact
In Canada about 1 in 10 people have a criminal record

13. Offences Against the Person
Includes violent crimes in which the victim is threatened, injured or killed

14. Homicide The C.C.C. defines homicide as:
222. (1) A person commits homicide when directly or indirectly, by any means, he causes the death of a human being.

15. Homicide Two types of homicide:
Culpable: is a killing for which the accused can be held legally responsible or shows such recklessness that his/her actions are likely to cause death
b) Non-culpable: a killing for which the accused cannot be held legally responsible, such as a death caused by an unforeseeable accident.

16. Culpable or Non-culpable?
What about…
Executions?
Solider acting in times of war?
An individual defending oneself or another person?

17. Murder The intentional killing of another human being
Form of culpable homicide
Two types: First-Degree
Second-degree

18. First-Degree Murder It is planned and deliberate
One person hires another to commit murder
If the victim is a police officer, prison employee or other person employed for the preservation and maintenance of the public peace
If the murder is caused while committing or attempting to commit another serious offence , such as hi-jacking, sexual assault, kidnapping, forcible confinement, hostage taking, etc. In these situations murder does not have to be planned and deliberate in order to qualify as first degree.
Punishment: Life in prison; no chance of parole for 25 years

19. Second-Degree Murder
Murder that does not fit into any of the first-degree murder categories, but is still caused intentionally.
Sentence: Life in prison; no chance of parole for at least 10 years

20. Infanticide
Infanticide occurs when a mother kills her new born child. This is very rare in Canada
All 3 of the following circumstances must be present for the crime to be considered infanticide:
a) the accused must be the natural mother of the victim
b) the victim must be less than 12 months old
c) at the time of the killing, the accused must have been suffering from a mental disturbance caused by not being able to recover from giving birth to the victim

21. Hmmm…
Nelson and Angelo started fighting in the Flaming Onion Tavern. Nelson knocked Angelo backward with a blow to the jaw, and Angelo hit his head on a corner of a pool table. He died later that night from internal bleeding by a severe concussion. Nelson had wanted to hurt Angelo, but he did not mean to kill him. Nevertheless, Angelo died as a direct result of Nelson’s wrongful act. The police arrested him. Can they charge him with murder? Explain.

22. Manslaughter Section 234 of the C.C.C. defines manslaughter as:
Any homicide that cannot be classified as murder
or infanticide
Killing someone through a wrongful act, even if the killing was not intentional.
Example: Maria is speeding and loses control of her car and kills a pedestrian. Although she did not mean to kill the pedestrian, she should have recognized that speeding could physically harm or kill someone.

23. PROVOCATION
A charge of murder can be reduced to manslaughter IF the accused can show provocation on the part of the victim.
Did the victim do something so insulting or outrageous that it caused the accused to lose self-control?

24. PROVOCATION EXAMPLE
Derrick and Li are arguing in Li’s kitchen. As the argument grows more heated, Derrick gets frustrated and spit’s in Li’s face. Li is so enraged that he grab’s a knife from the counter and plunges it into Derrick’s chest, killing him instantly. Since Li acted “in the heat of passion caused by sudden provocation”, it is likely he will be allowed to plead to manslaughter rather than murder.
Note that in the case of manslaughter there is no cooling off period; if Li goes home after Derrick spits on him and broods on the matter before killing Derrick two days later, then something “planned and deliberate” has occurred and Li will be charged with murder.

25. R. v. Mafi (2000) Page 226
Why was Mafi charged with second-degree murder rather than first-degree?
Why do you think that Mafi’s parole eligibility was set at 20 years instead of the usual period of 10 years?

26. R. v. Turner (1995) Page 229
Explain why John Ryan’s mother was charged with manslaughter rather than infanticide.
Do you think the Turners should have been charged with murder rather than manslaughter? Explain.

28. Assault is the most common form of violent crime
Assault is the most common form of violent crime. In 1999, 75% of all cases of violent crimes in Canada were assault related.

29. Assault
Threatened or actual physical contact without consent. Words themselves cannot be considered an assault; they must be accompanied by an act or gesture.

30. Level 1 Assault
Level 1 assault is a hybrid offence- maximum penalty 5 years in prison
Any one of the following actions:
Intentionally applying force to another person, (directly or indirectly)
Attempting or threatening to apply force by an act or gesture
Approaching or blocking the way of another person while openly carrying a wearing or carrying a weapon or imitation of a weapon

31. Should it be a criminal offence for a parent to spank a child?
You be the Judge!
An Angus Reid survey recently noted that 16% of Canadians thought it should be a criminal offence for a parent to spank a child. Men and women equally opposed making spanking a criminal offence.
Should it be a criminal offence for a parent to spank a child?

32. Level 2: Assault with a weapon or assault causing bodily harm
Hybrid offence- maximum penalty 10 years in prison
Committing an assault while carrying, using or threatening to use a weapon or an imitation of a weapon, or causing bodily harm

33. Level 3: Aggravated Assault
Most violent
Indictable Offence and carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison
Defined as severely wounding, maiming, disfiguring or endangering the life of the victim.

34. Video Presentation
The Code: Assaults on the Ice?

35. R. v. Robert, R. v. Foisy (2000) Page 230
1)Do you agree with the Judge’s decision and sentence in this case?

36. You be the Judge!
In Texas, some sex offenders have been ordered to post signs declaring their whereabouts, such as “Danger: Registered Sex Offender Lives Here.”
Texas law also requires the publication of sex offenders’ pictures and addresses. In Canada, police sometimes warn the public that a sexual offender has moved into an area.

37. Sexual Assault
Touching of a sexual nature that is not invited or consensual

38. Level 1-Sexual Assault The most common (97% of all cases)
Victim suffers the least physical injury
Usually involves touching that is not invited or consensual
Hybrid Offence- maximum penalty is 10 years

39. Level 2: Sexual assault with a weapon, threats to a 3rd part or causing bodily harm
Carries, uses or threatens to use a weapon or an imitation of a weapon
Threatens to cause bodily harm to the complainant or another person
Causes bodily harm to the complainant
Indictable Offence: Maximum 14 years in prison

40. Level 3: Aggravated Sexual Assault
Most violent level of sexual assault
Indictable Offence- maximum sentence: life in prison
Defined as wounding, maiming, disfiguring or endangering the life of the victim.

41. Consent
Consent is a valid defence to a charge of sexual assault if the accused person had an honest and reasonable belief that the victim was consenting to sexual contact.
However, consent cannot be used as a defence in 3 instances:
If a victim said “no”- either by words or conduct (repulsing physical advances or struggling to escape an embrace)
If the accused is intoxicated at the time
If the accused person was reckless or deliberately blind to the victim’s responses or failed to take reasonable steps to find out if the victim was consenting

42. How much do you know?

43. According to the Criminal Code, what is the BAC limit (blood alcohol concentration) above which it is forbidden to drive a vehicle? A. 0.08% B. 0.8% C. 0.008% D. 0.88%

44. Lending your driver's licence to someone else is: A
Lending your driver's licence to someone else is: A. permitted in cases of emergency B. permitted if that person can drive safely C. inadvisable and illegal D. possible only if that person already has a driver's licence, but forgot it at home

45. When a school bus stops with its red signal lights flashing, the law requires drivers to: A. stop until the bus proceeds or the signal lights are deactivated B. to do as they please as long as they tap the horn C. wait for approaching vehicles to pass D. slow down and then be extra careful while passing

46. On a one-way road, if a lane is closed, who should be given the right-of-way? A. the first driver to signal his or her intentions B. the driver on the closed lane C. the driver on the open lane D. the first driver to reach the open space next to the obstacle

47. When towing a trailer on a public road, what is illegal to transport in the trailer? A. passengers B. explosives C. firearms D. flammable materials

48. This hazard marker indicates. A. end of the road B
This hazard marker indicates? A. end of the road B. pass on either side of the obstacle C. pass to the right of the obstacle D. pass to the left of the obstacle

49. This sign indicates: A. level crossing on tributary road near intersection ahead B. angle of track at level crossing ahead C. angle of tributary road, intersection ahead D. level crossing ahead

50. What is the meaning of this sign. A. truck crossing ahead B
What is the meaning of this sign? A. truck crossing ahead B. slow moving lane for trucks climbing a steep hill C. minor road repairs ahead D. construction for 1 km

51. Motor Vehicle Offences
Most vehicle offences are things like speeding or failing to stop at a red light. As a result, most are not addressed in the Criminal Code. You simply get a fine and the matter is dealt with. (Quasi Criminal)
However, some offences are considered serious which are contained in the Criminal Code.

52. Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle
To convict an accused of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, the Crown must prove:
that the safety of others were endangered because the driver failed to exercise the same care a prudent driver would have exercised under the same conditions.
Sentencing:
Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle is a hybrid offence and punishable up to 5 years in prison
Dangerous operation causing bodily harm is an indictable offence and is punishable for up to 10 years
Dangerous driving causing death is an indictable offence and punishable up to 14 years in prison.

53. Failure to Stop at the Scene of an Accident
Anyone who is involved in a motor vehicle accident and does not stop, offer assistance and give his/her name and address is presumed to show intent to escape criminal or civil liability. This person may be charged with failure to stop at the scene of an accident.
Commonly known as “hit and run”
Hybrid offence; punishable up to 5 years.
causing bodily injury = maximum 10 years
causing death = maximum life.

54. Impaired Driving
Proof that a person is impaired can come from a number of sources:
Erratic driving
Slurred speech
Inability to walk a straight line
Smell of alcohol on his/her breath
Breath or blood test (cannot exceed 80 mg in 100 of blood)

55. Impaired Driving
If police have reasonable and probable grounds to believe that someone is impaired and operating a motor vehicle within the last 3 hours, they can demand a breath and/or blood test.
Driving while impaired and refusing to provide a breath/blood sample are hybrid offences. The severity of the punishment increases for subsequent offences.
Impaired driving causing bodily harm carries a maximum sentence of 10 years and causing death carries a maximum of life in prison.

56. R. v. Taylor (2000) Page 234
How far over the legal limit was the defendant’s alcohol?
What is the maximum penalty if an impaired driver kills someone?
What factors may have prompted the judge to double the prison sentence recommended by counsel? Explain.

57. Items of Interest To Serve or Protect?
Blood Alcohol Levels and the Law

58. Offences Against Property
Colour of Right:
The honest belief that a person owns something or has permission to use an item
Theft:
The taking of property, permanently or temporarily, without the owner’s permission.

59. V-room! V-room!
Suppose Sally borrows a car from her friend Mohammed. She tells Mohammed she is going to the mall and will return the car in three hours. At the mall, Sally meets another friend, Naya, who lives out of town. Sall y gives Naya a ride home in Mohammed’s car and then stays with her for a couple of days. On the third day, she tries to return Mohammed’s car but is stopped by a police officer who charges her with theft. Sally had permission to use Mohammed’s car- has she committed an act of theft?

60. But… what if Mohammed had told Sally to keep the car as long as she liked. Could she then claim “colour of right”?

61. Theft and Sentencing
Sentencing for theft depends on the value of the goods stolen.
Theft Over: the indictable offences of stealing goods worth over $5000
Theft Under: the hybrid offence of stealing goods worth under $5000
* Identity Theft Video

62. Robbery Theft involving violence or the threat of violence
According to Stats Canada, in 1997 approximately 52% of robberies involved the use of a weapon.

63. Is Mario guilty of breaking and entering?
While hunting deer with several companions in northern Ontario, it begins to snow. Mario becomes separated from the others and loses all sense of direction as the wind picks up and creates a whiteout. He stumbles upon a vacant cottage, kicks open the door, and takes shelter until the storm blows over.
Is Mario guilty of breaking and entering?

64. Break and Enter (B&E) Involves not only breaking and
entering into a place but also
having the intent to commit an
indictable offence once inside.
A “place” is usually a home, a commercial building or some other structure; the intention is usually to commit robbery or theft.

65. B&E Sentencing
The C.C.C. treats all B&E’s as serious crimes and the penalties can be heavy.
Breaking into a commercial building can result up to 10 years in prison
Breaking into a dwelling house, the maximum sentence increases to life in prison

66. Pierre and Matthew were drinking at a local restaurant
Pierre and Matthew were drinking at a local restaurant. On their way home, they rolled a tree trunk onto the railroad tracks. The next morning, the train engineer spotted the tree and was able to stop the train before it hit the obstruction. Even though no one was killed or injured, Pierre and Matthew could be charged with ____________.

67. Mischief
Mischief is committed by willfully destroying property or data, rendering property or data useless, interfering with the lawful use of property or data, or interfering with any person in the lawful use of property or data.
One common form of mischief is vandalism
Mischief involving data and property are hybrid offences
Anyone found guilty of mischief that endangers another person’s life can be sentenced to life in prison. It is NOT necessary for the harm to materialize as long as the act has been committed.
So…in the case of Pierre and Matthew; did they endanger a person’s life by placing the tree trunk on the tracks?

68. Public Mischief Completely different crime from mischief!!
Hybrid offence
Occurs when someone provides false information that either misleads the police in their investigation or tricks them into thinking that a crime has been committed when no crime has actually taken place.

69. These are all examples of ____________.
Fraud
Falsifying employment records
Pretending to be someone else
Manipulating the stock market
Forging trademarks and signatures
These are all examples of ____________.
Fraud: intentionally deceiving someone in order to cause a loss of property, money or service. In order to convict a person of fraud, the Crown must prove that the accused purposely intended to deceive.

70. Fraud
The penalties for fraud are determined by the value of the fraudulent transaction.
Example#1: If fraud is valued at less than $5000:
the Crown can charge the accused with either a summary offence punishable by a fine or an indictable offence with a maximum punishment of two years in prison.
Example #2: If fraud is valued at more than $5000:
it is an indictable offence with a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.

71. Prostitution
The act of prostitution itself is not a criminal offence; what is criminal is the act of soliciting (communicating for the purpose of prostitution).
Prostitution: usually refers to the act of engaging in sexual services for money.

72. Prostitution
Section 213 (1) makes it clear that either the prostitute or client can be charged with soliciting if, in a place open to public view, he or she:
Stops or attempts to stop any motor vehicle
Impedes the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic- includes blocking entrances/exits
Stops or attempts to stop any person, or in any manner communicates or attempts to communicate with any person, for the purpose of engaging in prostitution or of obtaining the sexual services of a prostitute.

73. Prostitution: Summary Offences
Soliciting: communication in a public place
Keeping a bawdy house
Bawdy House: is a place kept, occupied, or used by a person for the purpose of prostitution or the practice of indecent acts.
In the above situations, fingerprints or photographs are not taken, and the offender will not acquire a criminal record. Consequences are usually a fine and/or rehabilitation program.

74. Prostitution: Indictable Offences
Procuring (directing customers to the services of a prostitute)
Living off the earnings of a prostitute- even on a part-time basis.
Both carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; 14 years if the prostitute is under 18.
This is most commonly enforced against “pimps” living off the income of street prostitutes.

75. Hmmmm….
George offered a plainclothes police officer money for sex in a local tavern.
Could George charged with soliciting?
Yes, because the transaction took place in a public place.

76. Prostitutes in Iraq
Global Information on Prostitution

77. Gambling
Gambling itself is not a criminal offence; but offences can be committed in relation to gambling.
DISORDERLY HOUSE: A common bawdy, betting or gaming house, where people bet among themselves (on a horse race or football game) and where the keeper of the house keeps a portion of the winning bet. Anyone found keeping/permitting a disorderly house is guilty of an indictable offence and can be sentenced up to 2 years in prison.
There are exceptions to this. For example, people getting together to play cards for money is fine as long as it is not for the reason for the host to make profit. Horserace betting is allowed if the track has gained government approval and the operators pay the government a % of the money that customers bet.

78. Drug Offences
The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act is the federal statute that deals with narcotics and other controlled drugs such as heroin, cocaine and marijuana.
The Act was passed on May 14, 1997
The Act outlines illegal drugs and consequences for possession and trafficking
A controlled substance is any drug outlined in the act or basically, any drug you cannot purchase legally- for instance, at a store.

79. Possession
Possession: The state of having knowledge of and control over something
It is unlawful to be in unauthorized possession of any of the drugs listed in Schedules I to III. (Some of these drugs may be prescribed for medical purposes.)

80. Can Charles be charged with possession?
Jake held a grudge against Charles. He gave Charles a package of white powder and told him it was foot powder, when it was actually low-grade heroin. After Charles left, Jake called Crime Stoppers with a “tip” that Charles was carrying drugs.
Can Charles be charged with possession?

81. Charles was arrested, but the judge dismissed the charges when Charles was able to prove that he never knew the powder was a controlled substance.

82. To be guilty of possession…
1) The person in possession must know what the item is and have some measure of control over it.

83. Jenny placed an ounce of marijuana in Celeste’s gym bag
Jenny placed an ounce of marijuana in Celeste’s gym bag. School authorities searched the bag, found the drug, and called the police.
Who can be charged?

84. Jenny was charged with possession of a controlled substance, even though the marijuana was found in the other girl’s bag.

85. 2) A person may be found guilty of possession even if he or she gave the item in question to another person.

86. Dawna and Carla were going to a party when Dawna stopped to pick up several capsules of ecstasy. She told Carla what she was doing and Carla offered no objection she just waited for her friend.
If the police stopped these two on their way to the party and found the capsules, could either be charged with possession?

87. Even though the drugs did not belong to Carla and she was not taking them herself, she still could have been charged with possession on the basis of consent.
Keep in mind that “consent” can be broadly interpreted. It could mean that Carla gave “express consent” by saying out loud that Dawna’s possession of the drugs was all right with her. It could also mean that she gave “implied consent” because although she knew about the drugs, she did nothing to remove herself from the situation.

88. 3) A person can be actual possession, as long as the person knows about it and consents to its possession by someone else.

89. Possession: Checking Your Understanding!
You and three (3) of your friends are hanging out at David’s house. David grabs a joint and lights it up, passing it around the group. Everyone takes a puff. Just at that time, the police show up with a warrant to search the property and they spot the joint being smoked. Is David the only person to get charged and convicted?
David’s Mom comes out of the kitchen and tells the police to leave her child alone- he’s not hurting anyone. The police then charge her. What with and why?

90. Prescription Shopping or Double Doctoring
Some people require controlled drugs for pain relief. Other people become addicted to certain substances. This addiction may cause people to PRESCRIPTION SHOP or DOUBLE DOCTOR.
These people try to obtain the same prescription from a number of doctors
It is an offence to seek or to obtain a narcotic/prescription from a doctor without disclosing all other controlled drugs or prescriptions for controlled drugs received within the previous 30 days.
Summary Offence:
1st Offence: (maximum) $1000 or 6 months in prison
2nd Offence: (maximum) $2000 or 1 year in prison
Indictable Offence:
The penalties range from 18 months to 7 years depending on the substance.

91. Claire L’Heureux-Dube
“The offence of trafficking is taken extremely seriously by both the courts and the public…It goes without saying that someone branded as a ‘trafficker’ is held in extremely low regard by the public.”
Supreme Court Justice
Claire L’Heureux-Dube

92. Trafficking
Trafficking: to sell, give, administer, transport, send, deliver or distribute a controlled substance; to sell an authorization for a controlled substance.
* Merely giving drugs to another person constitutes trafficking- no profit or motive for profit is necessary.

93. R. v. Miller (2000) (Please record on your chart!)
Under the controlled Drugs and Substances Act, what was the maximum sentence Miller could have received?
Explain why the Court concluded that Miller meant to traffic in cocaine.
If Miller had been previously convicted for trafficking, what effect do you think this prior conviction would have had on his sentence?

94. Possession for the purpose of trafficking: The Crown must be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused possessed the controlled substance with the intention of trafficking.
Intention can be established in a number of ways:
The quantity of drugs which the accused had was much greater than what is required for personal use
Scales, bags, list of names present
Somewhat large amount of cash is present
See Chart Page 243

95. Does it really mater…?
Does it really matter if people use illegal drugs or not?
Does it really matter if they are only using while NOT at work and only on their free time?
Consider the following occupations:
Teacher
Airline pilot
Police officer
Pharmacist
Bank teller
Receptionist
School-bus driver
Should drug testing be a condition of employment for the above occupations? Which ones? Why or why not?

96. Video Selection
5th Estate: Staying Alive March 13, 2009

97. Group Work: Looking at some Statistics
Drug use in Canada (percentage of population)
Drug Incidents, Canada
Support for Legalization of Marijuana in Canada

98. Money Laundering Money Laundering:
The practice of transferring cash or other property to conceal its illegal origin. Any transfer, or possession of, sending or delivering, transporting, transmitting, altering, disposing of, or otherwise dealing with any proceeds of crime can be a criminal offence.
Classified as a Hybrid offence
Police are allowed to seize anything they believe, on reasonable grounds, has been obtained by committing a criminal offence.
It is also legal for the police themselves to set up a money laundering operation as part of a criminal investigation.

99. Money Laundering Penalties:
If tried as an indictable offence, a maximum prison of 10 years can be imposed.
If tried as a summary offence, the maximum can be a $2000 fine and/or 6 months in prison