SOC219H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Capital Murder, Minority Government, Correctional Service Of Canada
Document Summary
Chapter 3- a trip from thoughtful to thoughtless: murder sentencing in canada. Canada"s rst criminal code imposed the death penalty in all murder cases. Hanging was the essential form of capital punishment. Public and political questioning of capital punishment began in 1950s. In 1961 the canadian parliament introduced a new legislation that divided murderers into capital and non- capital categories. It was not until 1976 that the death penalty was abolished. To take its place- the parliament established a scheme of rst- and second- degree murder with mandatory life sentences for both. The distinction was in the parole ineligibility period. Rst degree murder- it was 25 years. Second degree murder- it was a period between 10- 25 years set by trial judge after receiving a recommendation from the jury. The interesting thing about the new scheme was that after 15 years, the process was allowed to reconsidering the ineligibility (this was called the 15 year review)
