CRI225H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Youth Criminal Justice Act, Actus Reus, Common Law Offence

• School: UTSG
• Department: Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies
• Course: CRI225H1

Document Summary

Shifting societal consensus about whether it is wrongful, and whether criminalization is the most appropriate way to address it. 1) a crime is a public wrong. 2) in canada, all crimes are statutory or codified. 3) a crime consists of two essential elements the actus reus (guilty act) and mens rea (guilty mind) Much of the course will focus on this 3rd aspect. A public wrong is a wrong against society as a whole (notwithstanding that there are generally individual victims) - prosecuted by the state. In canada, the crown prosecutes and criminal cases are styled regina or rex v accused ex. A private wrong is one committed against one or more private persons (natural or corporate) but not against society as a whole - for example, breach of contract or medical malpractice. A civil action for a private wrong is brought by a plaintiff against a defendant ex. In canada, crimes are statutory or codified.