1. What is a crime? (four parts in the answer)
2. What is the purpose of criminal law? (three parts in your answer)
3. Can Canadian provinces pass criminal laws? Explain.
4. Eric grabbed Peter by his throat and shook him violently, all the time yelling “I’ll kill you.” What criminal offences have occurred?
5. What are the elements of a crime that must be fulfilled before charges can be laid?
6. Returning to question #4, identify the elements that constitute the crimes.
7. Look at the picture on p. 144 in your text. Would it be possible to argue at that moment the picture was taken that a crime had occurred? The woman is touching the man on the chest. Is this a crime? The man is yelling at the women. Is this a crime? Imagine the man yelling: “You’re dead!” Would this make it an offence? What charge would be appropriate?
8. You are walking into an alley in the back of a Seven Eleven store and suddenly a man lunges toward you with a 2x4. He knocks you on the head and you drop to the ground. He hits you in the head and reaches for your back pack, grabs it and runs off. What is the crime that occurred? Which part of this crime is general intent, which part is specific intent?
9. What is the difference between motive and intent?
10. Read R. v. Hebert (p.148). What was the final decision in this case? Do you agree with the final decision and why?
11. Give an example relevant to our school that could illustrate criminal negligence.
12. How are recklessness and willful blindness similar and different?
13. Imagine the water company has become aware that someone had cut a large hole in the fence around the water reservoir. Since it is the weekend and no qualified workmen are available until next week, the company is unable to seal the hole in the fence. Over the weekend, a lost hiker is walking along this fence, reaches he hole, and falls into the reservoir where he drowns and dies. Discuss the issue of liability.
14. After school, a group of kids gather outside the school in a park. Two boys are fighting and the crowd is cheering them on. Crime?
15. One of the boys in the crowd, Tony, throws a baseball bat to one of the fighting boys. Crime?
16. Your best friend comes to you and tells you that he has seen the latest Ipod in the store but can’t buy it because he doesn’t have enough money. You tell him just to go in and sneak it out under a large jacket. Crime?
17. Pony Boy has shot a member of the opposing gang and now is on the run. He heads over to Billy’s house and tells him that he has made a big mess out of his life and is in deep trouble. Billy tells him not to worry, gives him a handful of money and the key to his cabin. Crime?
18. Develop a short story in which you describe an attempted crime.
19. With a partner or two, develop a series of skits in which you illustrate at least three different elements of the criminal trial process. (Use pp. 174-183 as a guide).
20. Why is R. v. Oickle significant?
21. Use the information on pp. 193-219 to develop your own case study.
22. Pick a criminal code offence and prepare to lay charges against the perpetrator. Create a possible scenario for the defense.
23. What are the goals of sentencing and what considerations must be made by a judge when sentencing a person found guilty of an offence?
24. What options are available other than incarceration?
25. Read the chapter on Youth and Crime and discuss one element of your choice in detail.
