POLI 298 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Indictable Offence, Vehicle Identification Number, Summary Offence
13 Aug 2015
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Document Summary
Law is the body of rules that regulates the conduct of members of society and is recognized and enforced by the government. Nothing can be considered a crime unless it was a crime at the time it was committed; this right is guaranteed by section 11(g) of the charter of rights and freedoms. The definition of criminal liability must be sufficiently clear so one can know what the offence is. Of two equally plausible interpretations, the courts should favour the one that is less restrictive of the people. Criminal law can only be used if parliament can identify a direct harm made to others flowing from the breach of the prohibition: the four principles of criminal law: S. 11(d) of the canadian charter of rights and freedoms: to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law in a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal .
