Course Outline INTRODUCTION TO CANADIAN CRIMINAL LAW CRIMINOLOGY 230 UNIVERSITY CREDIT PROGRAM Campus: * Prince Rupert, B.C. Term: * Winter (January - April) Instructor: * Mimmo Ciccone Office/Phone: * 624-7434 Times: * Tuesdays (6:00 pm- 9:00 pm) Credits: * 3 Course Content: Law essentially serves two functions in modern, western, industrial society. First, it serves to order and regulate the affairs of all persons, be they individuals, corporations or governments. Secondly, law acts as a standard of conduct and morality, variously directed at individuals and groups, businesses and governments. This course provides a general introduction to the Canadian Criminal Law and competing principles of jurisprudence and to the basic legal institutions of Canada. Class discussion, lectures and assigned readings will allow the student to consider the history of Canadian Law, the development of the Canadian Constitution, the system of Canadian courts and the rules and responsibilities of members of the legal profession. In addition, the course will consider the nature, purpose, scope, sources and basic principles of the criminal law. Study of certain fundamental legal concepts such as mens rea, negligence, and strict liability. Analysis of the concept of criminal responsibility in Canada. Critical examination of the legislative policies expressed in the Criminal Code. Study of the basic elements of a criminal offence. Examination of the legal principles relating to certain specific crimes and to certain major defences. Impact of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms on the criminal law. Page 1 of 5
Course Format: 3 instructional hours per week Course Prerequisites: Criminology 135 Transfer Credits: Students should refer to the BCCAT Website: www.bccat.bc.ca for transfer details. Recommended Follow-Up Courses: Criminology 331- Advanced Criminal Law Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course the learner will be able to: define those aspects of Canadian law and legal institutions which will be of particular significance to criminology students; have an understanding of the fundamental principles of jurisprudence; identify the basic legal institutions in Canada; discuss the concept of law as a process of authoritative and controlling decision- making and identify this process in operation at various levels of the legislative, judicial and administrative process; discuss the principal resources of a law library and use law reports, statues and law journal in the investigation of basic legal problems; understand the nature, purpose, and scope of the criminal law and the basic elements of a criminal offence; discuss the constitutional framework within which Canadian courts and legislates function; understand certain fundamental legal concepts such as mens rea, negligence, and strict liability and the concept of criminal responsibility in Canada. Required Materials/Texts: Page 2 of 5
1). Verdun-Jones, Simon N. (2007) Criminal Law in Canada: Cases, Questions and the Code, 4 th edition. 2). Canadian Criminal Code Evaluation Profile: Mid- Term Exam..30% Various Assignments 30% Final Exam 30% Class Participation.10% TOTAL..100% Grading Profile: A + = 96%-100% B + = 81%-85% C + = 66%-70% P = 50%-55% A = 91%-95% B = 76%-80% C = 61%-65% F = 0-49% A - = 86%-90% B - = 71%-75% C - = 56%-60% Assignments: Attendance/Participation: Regular attendance and participation in classroom activities and discussion is expected. Term- Paper Assignment: n/a Mid- term Examination: A mid-term examination will b held during the 9 th class. The exam will consist of short answer and case study examinations. Final Examinations: A final examination will be held during the exam period. The exam will once again consist of short answer and case study scenarios. The final exam will only cover the material studied after the mid-term examination. Course Schedule: Page 3 of 5
The following is a tentative schedule for this course. Variations may occur and will be announced in class. WEEK TOPIC READING WORK ASSIGNMENTS DUE 1) Introduction No Reading 2) Introduction to Criminal Law Chapter 1 3) The Actus Reus Elements of an Offence Chapter 2 4) Causation in Criminal Law Chapter 3 5) Subjective Liability Chapter 4 6) Objective Liability Chapter 5 7) Regulatory Offences Chapter 6 8) Reading Break 9) Mid-Term Exam March 4, 2008 10) Inchoate Offences Chapter 7 11) Mental Impairment & Defences Chapter 8 and 9 12) Defences (continued) Chapter 10 and 11 13) Defences (continued) Chapter 12 14) Review for Final Exam No Assigned Readings Operational Details: College Policies: Attendance: Northwest Community College has policies on Academic Appeals (including appeal of final grades), Student Conduct, Cheating and Plagiarism, Academic Probation and other educational issues. Copies of these and other policies are available in the College Calendar and in the Library. It is recommended that students attend all classes. Page 4 of 5
Missed Exams: Late Assignments: Cheating/Plagiarism: Incomplete Grades: English Usage: Recommended that departments have consistent practices Please turn in your written work when it is due. When you make choices for time commitments, please be sure to understand that all assigned work is part of the course and the course learning process. There will be not late submissions unless they are due to exceptional circumstances discussed with approved by the instructor. Unauthorized late submissions (up to three days) will lead to a loss of one third of the total mark for the project per day. For a delay of more than three days, you will need a doctor s certificate. Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's words, ideas, interpretations, insights, or order of points as your own. All work submitted must be your own words and content, and not written by a tutor or friend. Whenever you use sources for an essay, or assignment, you must avoid plagiarism by documenting them. The College calendar establishes procedures for plagiarised assignments. Incomplete grades will be assigned in exceptional Circumstances, discussed with and approved by the Instructor in advance. APA sourcing is to be used on all assignments. Computer Course Requirements/Policies: Any student found either making copies of our diskettes or network files, or using an unauthorized copy of our programs will be required to withdraw from this course. A second offence in any course may result in an automatic expulsion from the program. Page 5 of 5