The focus of this course will be on criminal offences that proceed by way of summary conviction and not indictable given the limitations on paralegal’s permissionable areas of practice. Within that context, the course will be an introduction to criminal law and procedure covering the basic principles of criminal liability, including the statutory sources of criminal offences and the concepts of mens rea, actus reus and burden of proof.
There will be an examination of the basic structure of the Criminal Code, the differences between federal criminal offences and provincial quasi-criminal offences, and the various levels of intent. As well there will be a detailed analysis of police investigatory powers, Charter protections, various defences, the trial process, sentencing and appeal rights and procedures.