CRIM 2261 - Criminal Law

Course Description

Students develop an understanding of Canadian criminal law through a review of the sources of criminal law and how criminal law operates within the structure of the justice system. Students study the role of criminal law in society through a discussion of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and recent cases, followed by a thorough examination of the principles of substantive Canadian criminal law. Using a case-study approach, students examine principles of law in the context of specific cases decided by the courts. Students consider the law critically, from both an academic and societal perspective.

Learning outcomes

• Understand and explicate the sources of criminal law
• Understand and explicate how criminal law in Canada operates within the structure of the justice system
• Be able to refer to the Criminal Code of Canada to determine the black letter law for a particular criminal act
• Be able to refer to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as it applies to criminal law issues
• Analyze criminal fact patterns to identify the criminal law issues
• Understand the current Canadian criminal law relating to issues covered in the course
• Accurately explain the current Canadian criminal law relating to issues covered in the course
• Apply the current Canadian criminal law to fact patterns
• Identify current criminal law issues and challenges for reform

Course topics

• Units 1 and 2: Actus Reus
• Unit 3: Causation
• Units 4 and 5: Subjective Liability
• Unit 6: Objective Liability
• Unit 7: Regulatory Offences
• Unit 8: Modes of Participation in Crime and Inchoate Offences
• Unit 9: Not Criminally Responsible by Reason of a Mental Disorder (NCRMD)
• Units 10 and 11: Defences to a Criminal Charge
• Unit 12: Review for Final Examination

Required text and materials

Students are responsible for purchasing the required materials on their own:

• Verdun-Jones, Simon N. (2020; 2024). Criminal Law in Canada. Cases, Questions, and the Code. (7th ed.). Nelson. 
  Type: E-Textbook. ISBN: 9781774625729 / 9780176724412

Note: This item can be purchased directly from Campus eBookstore via Wolfie's Campus Store.

Assessments

To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the mandatory final exam .

Prerequisites

• CRIM 1161