SOC209H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Nulla Poena Sine Lege, Forced Confession, Mens Rea
Document Summary
Chapter 1 the foundations of criminal justice. Magna carta and other documents provided basis for emergence of the rule of law and seen principles of the magna carter in the canadian charter of rights and freedom. Principles of canadian law: actus non facit reum nisi sit rea: act doesn"t make a person guilty unless he/she has a guilty mind. Crime has 2 components; actus reus act of doing something, mens rea guilty intent. To be convicted, person must have done something criminal and had the intent to do it. Ignorantia juris non excused: ignorance of law no excuse, everyone should be familiar with law. The classification of offences: summary conviction offences, indictable offences, hybrid (elective) offences. The criminal law in a diverse society: difficult to apply criminal law in diverse society visible cultural minority groups growing portion of population, tension between cultural practices in countries of origin and accepted behaviours in.
