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Criminal Law Dictionary

The greatest "criminals" from our main dictionary.

last updated Friday, November 06, 2009

Abortion Law in Canada

Abortion is not a crime in Canada. But it is an area of the law where, beyond that simple fact, the waters are very murky.

last updated: Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Animal Cruelty (Canada)

Cruelty to animals elicits a strong reaction from most members of society. Canadian law's response to the issue is, to hear some tell it, either too vague and piecemeal or not strong enough. This article summarizes the "state of the art".

last updated: Sunday, June 29, 2008

Canada's Criminal Code: A History

Canada's criminal law is rooted in the common law of England. The public policy advantages of codification began at the end of the 18th century in England where, in the words of Canadian Federal Court judge Allen Linden, criminal law had evolved into "a bottomless pit of complex case law, petty, anachronistic offences and harsh punishments."

last updated: Friday, October 02, 2009

Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse is any sexual contact between a child and another person, from fondling to rape, with or without force. It is a heinous crime for which there is no defence nor should there be any societal tolerance. This article looks at the phenomena.

last updated: Thursday, March 05, 2009

Corrective Force: Spanking Takes A Spanking

The law as to the use of corrective force or corporal punishment by parents or educators is in a state of flux; under heavy bombardment by some, while reluctantly defended by others.

last updated: Saturday, October 24, 2009

Criminal Negligence and Dangerous Operation of Vessels

Whether on water or land, the long arm of the law watches and acts against those that operate their vessel dangerously.

last updated: Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Criminal Procedure: An Introduction

Plain and simple, basic and primer criminal procedure handbook.

last updated: Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Euthanasia in Canada

We can choose much about how we live but the law still refuses to let us choose how to die. Once marginalized as cultish, right-to-die activists dare to speak the "e" word (euthanasia).

last updated: Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Extradition From Canada

For a citizen habituated to, and confident in the laws of their native or adopted land, especially one as free and democratic as Canada, extradition can be a terrifying prospect. This article looks at the extradition process, especially as it concerns extradition from Canada.

last updated: Friday, November 06, 2009

Hit and Run or Failure to Stop at Scene of an Accident

Hard to imagine a more cowardly act than a hit and run with a vehicle (or, dressed in the cryptic words of the statute, "failure to stop at scene of accident"), especially under circumstances where other persons may be hurt, be they cyclists, pedestrians or passengers. Canada's Parlaiment agrees and has prohibited this type of conduct in the nation's Criminal Code.

last updated: Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Impaired Driving and Breathalyzer Law

The too-frequent crime of impaired driving and related breathalyzer law, are frequent refrains at the local courthouse as the drunks, the dead and the injured are sorted.

last updated: Wednesday, July 08, 2009

International Criminal Court

Discover the International Criminal Court which judges some of the worst criminals, capable of genocide and war crimes. As the ICC goes through its growing pains, the day of reckoning approaches where no safe sanctuary on earth would exist for those of the ilk of Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin or Charles Tayor.

last updated: Monday, August 10, 2009

Luring A Child via the Internet

At last, a responsive offence in Canada's Criminal Code to criminalize the conduct of luring a child via the Internet for the purposes of prohibited sexual offences.

last updated: Thursday, May 15, 2008

Malicious Prosecution

When an overzealous or bit nutty madman starts cranking out complaints about ya, ya gotta know how to fight back! Don't start a feud with a nutcase - ...

last updated: Friday, October 19, 2007

Motor Vehicle Cases

In the area of motor vehicle law, certain Court cases have helped shaped the law. Here, for your listening pleasure, are the "Canada Motor Vehicle Cases - Greatest Hits".

last updated: Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Murder

Murder! A word which, while overused in the comic books of the world, remains the worst of crimes and against which, the criminal law stands at the ready.

last updated: Monday, November 05, 2007

Obstruction of Justice

To those who are comfortable with breaking the law, it may seem a natural extension to then attempt to corrupt the justice system seeking to punish them. Alive to this phenomenon, criminal law identifies "obstruction of justice" as a separate crime, one which necessarily carries bite as a justice system left so lef unprotected would be no justice system at all.

last updated: Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Pardon in Canada

Pardons are the erasure of a person's criminal record. In Canada, applications for pardons are received and considered by the National Parole Board. This article looks at the process of getting a pardon in Canada.

last updated: Monday, November 10, 2008

Parole In Canada

The releasing of a prison inmate into the general public is a very difficult decision. This article looks at Canada's parole system.

last updated: Sunday, June 10, 2007

Preferred Indictment

In criminal prosecutions, the Crown can force a matter to skip a preliminary inquiry by way of a preferred indictment.

last updated: Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Prostitution and Related Offenses (Canada)

In a peculiar state of affairs, everything related to prostitution has been regulated by Canadian criminal law except prostitution itself. This article describes what has been regulated and similar or related offences in Canada.

last updated: Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Self-Defence in Criminal Law

Few words in law are more loaded than a person is not responsible for an act if the act is carried-out in self‑defence of self or of another.

last updated: Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Stalking

No person shall, knowing that another person is harassed or recklessly as to whether the other person is harassed, repeatedly follow, communicate, beset or watch a residence or workplace of that person, that causes that other person reasonably, in all the circumstances, to fear for their safety or the safety of anyone known to them.

last updated: Thursday, June 04, 2009

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Unless otherwise noted, this article was written by Lloyd Duhaime, Barrister, Solicitor, Attorney and Lawyer (and Notary Public!). It is not intended to be legal advice and you would be foolhardy to rely on it in respect to any specific situation you or an acquaintance may be facing. In addition, the law changes rapidly and sometimes with little notice so from time to time, an article may not be up to date. Therefore, this is merely legal information designed to educate the reader. If you have a real situation, this information will serve as a good springboard to get legal advice from a lawyer.

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