St.$Jerome’s$University$in$the$University$of$Waterloo$
Department$of$Sociology$and$Legal$Studies$
LS#202$(Section$002)$
#
CRIMINAL#LAW#
#
Winter$2016$
Tuesdays$&$Thursdays$11:30am$–$12:50pm,$Siegfried$Hall$(STJ$1036)$
"
Instructor#and#T.A.#Information#
!
Instructor:!
Dr."Ryan"Devitt"
Office:"" "
STJ"1026"
Email:"" "
rtdevitt@uwaterloo.ca"
Office"hours:" Tuesdays"and"Thursdays,"1:00pm–2:00pm""
"
Name!
Contact!
Jurisdiction!(by!Last!Name)!
Jessica"Jordao"
jessica.jordao54@gmail.com"
GROUP!1:!!!A–J""
Alishau"Diebold"
alishau.diebold@gmail.com"
GROUP!2:""K–S""
GROUP!4:!!T–Z!!
plus"AccessAbility"&"Accommodations"
Ryan"Devitt"
rtdevitt@uwaterloo.ca"
"
Course#Description##
"
A"caseMstudy"approach"to"the"study"of"criminal"law"in"Canada"with"a"focus"on"basic"concepts"and"core"
principles"relating"to"legal"judgments,"along"with"comparative"examination"between"civil"and"criminal"
law"and"attention"to"legal"theory."
""
Course#Goals#and#Learning#Outcomes#
"
Drawing"on"the"Constitution,"the"Canadian"Criminal(Code,"and"judgments"from"actual"cases,"we"will"
learn"how"the"criminal"law"in"Canada"is"developed,"interpreted,"and"applied."Since"the"law"lives"and"
breaths"in"the"courts,"we"will"focus"on"the"central"role"of"argument"and"on"judicial"interpretation"of"legal"
rules"and"principles,"legislative"intent,"and"the"common"law."
"
Upon"completion"of"this"course,"students"should"be"able"to"(1)"understand"and"apply"concepts"central"to"
the"criminal"law,"such"as"fundamental"justice,"moral"blameworthiness,"and"the""reasonable"person";"(2)"
understand"the"definition"and"classification"of"select"criminal"and"regulatory"offences;"and"(3)"
understand"and"evaluate"recognized"defences"in"criminal"law."
"
Required#Texts#
"
The"following"text"is"required"for"the"course;"no"substitutions"or"exceptions"are"permitted:""
"
!
Kent"Roach,"Criminal(Law,"6th"Edition"(Irwin"Law"Inc.,"2015)"
#
Waterloo#LEARN$
"
The"LEARN"page"for"LS"202"(learn.uwaterloo.ca)"is"an"integral"component"of"the"course."Here,"you"will"
find"the"latest"course"announcements,"case"files"for"case"study"classes"(see"schedule"below),"lecture"
slides,"and"detailed"assignment"instructions."Be"sure"to"visit"the"course"LEARN"page"frequently."
1"of"6"
"
Additional#Resources#
"
CanLII"Connects:"http://canliiconnects.org/en"
"
! CanLII"is"a"nonMprofit"organization"managed"by"the"Federation"of"Law"Societies"of"Canada."
CanLII's"goal"is"to"make"Canadian"law"accessible"for"free"on"the"Internet."This"website"provides"
access"to"court"judgments,"tribunal"decisions,"statutes"and"regulations"from"all"Canadian"
jurisdictions."
"
Government"of"Canada"Justice"Laws:"http://lawsMlois.justice.gc.ca/eng/index.html""
"
! Consolidated"Acts"and"regulations"of"Canada,"including"the"Criminal(Code"and"the"Constitution."
Includes"tables"of"contents,"search"features,"PDFs."
"
Lexum"Collection:"http://sccMcsc.lexum.com/sccMcsc/en/nav.do""
"
! All"judgments"of"the"Supreme"Court"of"Canada"since"1875"(common"or"judgeMmade"law,"which"
constitutes"precedent"for"all"Canadian"jurisdictions)."
"
Oxford"Reference:"http://www.oxfordreference.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/"
"
! Relevant"titles"include"A(Dictionary(of(Law((8th"Ed.)"and"The(New(Oxford(Companion(to(Law."
Access"provided"by"the"University"of"Waterloo"libraries."
#
Course#Requirements#and#Assessment#
#
"
!
Requirement!
!
"
Midterm!Exam!
"
Essay!Assignment!
Description!
"
Multiple"choice"and"short"answers"
examining"students'"understanding"of"
course"material"covered"up"to"Reading"
Week."Conducted"inMclass"(80"minutes)."
"
"
Evaluate"the"use"of"a"successful"defence"in"
a"selected"case"involving"either"
intoxication,"mental"disorder,"or"selfM
defence."Determine"whether"or"not"the"
defence"is"valid"according"to"1)"core"
principles"of"the"criminal"law,"2)"relevant"
sections"of"the"Criminal(Code,"and"3)"the"
particulars"of"the"select"defence"as"covered"
in"the"course"text"and"lectures."Note:"
detailed"instructions"for"the"essay"will"be"
provided"inMclass"closer"to"the"due"date."
"
LS"202"Criminal"Law"
Value!
Schedule!
30%"
Tuesday,"February!23"
30%"
Thursday,"March!17"
"
"LEARN!Dropbox:"
any"time"prior"to"the"
beginning"of"class"
"
Hard!copy:"
Submit"in"class"
2"of"6"
"
"
Final!Exam!
"
"
Multiple"choice"and"short"answers"
examining"students'"understanding"of"
course"material"covered"throughout"the"
course."Conducted"during"spring"exam"
period"(2.5"hours)."
"
40%"
Scheduled"by"Registrar"
"
#
#
Late#Assignments#and#Missed#Examinations#
"
Accommodations"will"only"be"considered"if:"
"
"
"
(a)"you"are"ill"and"submit"a"University(of(Waterloo(Verification(of(Illness(Form"to"the"course""
instructor"within"48"hours"of"the"assignment"due"date;"
"
"
"
(b)"there"was"a"death"of"a"family"member,"which"you"can"prove"through"official"documentation""
(travel"receipts"will"not"suffice)"submitted"to"the"course"instructor;"
"
"
"
(c)"due"dates"conflict"with"important"dates"on"your"religious"calendar,"and"you"have"informed""
the"course"instructor"of"this"fact;"
"
(d)"you"are"registered"with"AccessAbility"Services"and"the"AccessAbility"Office"has"coordinated"
with"your"instructor"regarding"required"accommodations."
"
Your"responsibilities"in"the"event"of"late"or"missed"course"requirements"can"be"found"here:"
https://uwaterloo.ca/registrar/finalMexaminations/examinationMregulationsMandMrelatedMmatters""
"
MakeFup#for#Midterm#Examination$
"
Students"may"write"a"makeMup"exam"only"for"the"reasons"outlined"above."You"must"contact"the"
instructor"as"soon"as"possible"(at"minimum"within"48"hours)"to"obtain"permission"to"write"the"makeMup"
examination."NOTE:"The(makeBup(session(is(FRIDAY,(FEBRUARY(26(from(9am—10:20am,(STJ(3013."
"
Grading#Turnaround$
"
Students"will"receive"midterm"examination"grades"within"two"weeks;"essays"will"be"returned"on"the"final"
class,"March"31."
"
Grade#ReFAppraisals$
"
The"instructor"will"reMevaluate"examinations"and/or"assignments"upon"request"only"if"
"
(1) The"student"making"the"request"first"consulted"the"member"of"the"Teaching"Team"who"originally"
graded"the"work,"and"no"mutually"agreeable"solution"was"achieved."
"
"
(2) The"student"understands"that"the"instructor's"reMappraisal"is"no"guarantee"of"a"higher"grade,""
but"in"fact"could"result"in"a"lower"grade"on"the"assignment"or"examination."
!
Electronic#Device#Policy#
!
Electronic"devices"may"be"used"for"noteMtaking"alone."If"your"misuse"causes"a"distraction,"you"will"be"
given"a"fair"warning"to"stop;"if"misuse"continues,"you"will"be"excused"from"the"class.""
LS"202"Criminal"Law"
3"of"6"
"
#
Class#Schedule#(note,$T=Tuesday,$R=$Thursday)$
#
!
Date!
!
Topic"
Readings""
Course"Introduction""
"
"
T."January"5"
"
"
R.!January"7"
Overview"of"the"Criminal"Law"
T."January"12"
Constitution"&"the"Criminal"Law:" Roach,"Chapter!2"
Principles"1"
"""""Sections"A—B(2)...........pp."24—45"
"
"
Roach,"Chapter!1"
"
"
R."January"14"
Constitution"&"the"Criminal"Law:" Roach,"Chapter!2""
Principles"2"
"""""Section"B(4)—B(5)……..pp."61—86"
"
"
T."January"19"
Constitution"&"the"Criminal"Law:"
Case"Files"on"LEARN"
Case"Studies"
"
"
R."January"21"
Actus(Reus"(the"Criminal"Act):"
Principles"
Roach,"Chapter!3"
"""""Section"A(1)……………….pp."87—95""
"""""Section"A(6)—B(4)……..pp."107—128"
"
"
T."January"26"
Actus(Reus((the"Criminal"Act):"
Case"Studies"
Case"Files"on"LEARN"
"
"
R."January"28"
"
Mens(Rea((the"Fault"Element):"
Principles"
"
Roach,"Chapter!5!
"""""Section"A(1)—(3)….......pp."169—177"
"""""Section"B(1)…………..…..pp."186—190"
"""""Section"C(1)—(2)….......pp."199—204"
"
"
!T.!February"2"
Mens(Rea((the"Fault"Element):"
Case"Studies"
"
R."February"4"
"
Inchoate"Offences"&"Parties:"
Principles"
"
"
T."February"9"
Inchoate"Offences"&"Parties:"
Case"Studies"
"
LS"202"Criminal"Law"
"
Case"Files"on"LEARN"
"
"
Roach,"Chapter!4!
"""""Section"A(1)—E(4)........pp."130—160"
"
"
Case"Files"on"LEARN"
"
4"of"6"
"
R."February"11"
Midterm"Examination"Review"
READING!WEEK!
"
"
"
"
"
T."February"23"
MIDTERM!EXAMINATION!
"
R."February"25"
Select"Defences"–"Intoxication"
Roach,"Chapter!7"
T."March"1"
Select"Defences"–"Mental"
Disorder"&"Automatism"
Roach,"Chapter!8"
R."March"3"
Select"Defences"–"SelfMDefence"
Guest!Lecture:"Justice"Patrick"J."
Flynn"
"
Roach,"Chapter!9!
"""""Section"A(1)—B(2)……..pp."324—359"
"
T."March"8"
Select"Defences:"Case"Studies"
Case"Files"on"LEARN"
"
The"Special"Part"(Homicide):"
Principles"
Roach,"Chapter!10!
"""""Section"A(1)—(2)……....pp."388—407"
"""""Section"A(6)….....….......pp."435—440"
T."March"15"
The"Special"Part"(Homicide):"
Case"Studies."Guest!Lecture:"
Justice"Patrick"J."Flynn"
Case"Files"on"LEARN"
R."March"17"
Regulatory"Offences:"Principles"
T."March"22"
Regulatory"Offences:"Case"
Studies"
Case"Files"on"LEARN"
R."March"24"
Sentencing:"Principles"
Guest!Lecture:"Justice"Patrick"J."
Flynn"
"
Roach,"Chapter!11!
!
!
T.!March"29"
!
Sentencing:"Case"Studies"
R.!March"31"
Final"Exam"Review"
R."March"10"
"
Roach,"Chapter!6!
!
ESSAYS!DUE!
!"
Case"Files"on"LEARN"
"
LS"202"Criminal"Law"
!
5"of"6"
"
IMPORTANT!INFORMATION!
!
Academic!Integrity!
!
To"maintain"a"culture"of"academic"integrity,"members"of"the"University"of"Waterloo"and"its"
Federated"University"and"Affiliated"Colleges"are"expected"to"promote"honesty,"trust,"fairness,"
respect,"and"responsibility."
""
Discipline!
!
A"student"is"expected"to"know"what"constitutes"academic"integrity,"to"avoid"committing"
academic"offences,"and"to"take"responsibility"for"his/her"actions."A"student"who"is"unsure"
whether"an"action"constitutes"an"offence,"or"who"needs"help"in"learning"how"to"avoid"offences"
(e.g.,"plagiarism,"cheating)"or"about"“rules”"for"group"work/collaboration"should"seek"guidance"
from"the"course"professor,"academic"advisor,"or"the"Associate"Dean."When"misconduct"has"
been"found"to"have"occurred,"disciplinary"penalties"will"be"imposed"under"the"St."Jerome’s"
University"Policy"on"Student"Discipline."For"information"on"categories"of"offenses"and"types"of"
penalties,"students"should"refer"to"University"of"Waterloo"Policy"71"(Student"Discipline).""
"
Grievance!
!
A"student"who"believes"that"a"decision"affecting"some"aspect"of"his/her"university"life"has"been"
unfair"or"unreasonable"may"have"grounds"for"initiating"a"grievance."Students"who"decide"to"file"
a"grievance"should"refer"to"University"of"Waterloo"Policy"70"(Student"Petitions"and"Grievances)."
For"more"information,"students"should"contact"the"Associate"Dean"of"St."Jerome’s"University.""
!
Appeals!
!
A"student"may"appeal"the"finding"and/or"penalty"in"a"decision"made"under"the"St."Jerome’s"
University"Policy"on"Student"Discipline"or"University"of"Waterloo"Policy"70"(Student"Petitions"
and"Grievances)"if"a"ground"for"an"appeal"can"be"established."In"such"a"case,"read"St."Jerome's"
University"Policy"on"Student"Appeals.""
!
Academic!Integrity!Office!(UW)!!https://uwaterloo.ca/academicMintegrity/"
!
Note!for!students!with!disabilities!
!
The"AccessAbility"Services"(AS)"Office,"located"in"Needles"Hall,"Room"1401,"collaborates"with"all"
academic"departments"to"arrange"appropriate"accommodations"for"students"with"disabilities"
without"compromising"the"academic"integrity"of"the"curriculum."If"you"require"academic"
accommodations"to"lessen"the"impact"of"your"disability,"please"register"with"the"AS"Office"at"
the"beginning"of"each"academic"term."
LS"202"Criminal"Law"
6"of"6"