Canada's Justice System PDF

CHAPTER 2 Canada’s Justice System Questions of Justice - Write your answer on a sheet of paper and be prepared to share your thoughts with the class 1. Why do we have prison?  2. How long should you spend in prison for committing? - Murder? - Stealing a car? - Breaki...

CHAPTER 2 Canada’s Justice System Questions of Justice - Write your answer on a sheet of paper and be prepared to share your thoughts with the class 1. Why do we have prison?  2. How long should you spend in prison for committing? - Murder? - Stealing a car? - Breaking and entering into a home? - Stealing pain medication from a store? - Stealing a loaf of bread to feed yourself? - Speeding 50km/h over the limit? - Attacking someone who insulted you and breaking their nose? 3. Other than prison, what other consequences should an offender face for their crime? 4. If a 13-year old and an adult commit the same crime, should they receive the same consequence? Why do you think that? Youth Crime in Canada: An Overview Respond to True/False statements in your package  Individual Questions Using textbook pgs. 56-70, answer the questions in your notes package Video: A Chance for Change Comparing the YCJA and Criminal Code YCJA: Criminal Code: - Deals with ages 12-17 - Deals with ages 18+ - Offender’s name not published - Identity of offender is published - No permanent public criminal when charged record - Permanent public criminal record - Sentences usually do not include - Jail is a more common sentence jail - Court and trials are common - Offenders often avoid court and trials, Youth Justice Committee instead Comparing the YCJA and Criminal Code Both YCJA and Criminal Code: - Ages 14-17 can be tried under the criminal code - Consequences can include: community service, probation, restitution - Deals with consequences of committing crimes Read Comic Pg 61 - 63 in textbook Factors that Determine Consequences for Young Offenders These are choices made by police / prosecutors / judges 1. The seriousness of the crime 2. The history of the offender (are they a repeat offender?) 3. The attitude of the youth (repentant, arrogant, doesn’t care) 4. Circumstances of the youth (poverty, lack of role models drugs, alcohol)  Flowchart of Consequences Youth Face We will draw the process that youth who have been accused of committing a crime go through under the YCJA on the board Objectives of the YCJA What is the YCJA attempting to accomplish? 1. Address the underlying causes of crime a. Why is the youth committing a crime? How to stop them. 2. Rehabilitate (fix issues youth is facing) a. Reintegrate (get them back into normal behaviour) 3. Ensure meaningful consequences a. Youth learns their lesson, society is protected 4. Separate youth/adult justice system a. Different levels of maturity and brain development Cartoon/Graph Analysis Activity Cartoon #1 Cartoon #2 Cartoon #3 Cartoon #4 Graphs Youth Crime Scenarios Group Project Involving Determining Consequences of Crimes  Youth Crime Scenario Project Overview: Working together with your group, you will create a presentation about a case study where a youth has committed a crime. Your group will decide on consequences for the youth that align with the intentions and purpose of the YCJA. For each case, some details are given. You are free to fill in additional details about the youth’s history, attitude, etc. as you see fit. Just be sure to include what you create in your presentation. Jury Duty Juries Read pg. 79-81 in textbook Juries are a way that all Canadian citizens are expected to participate in the justice system. Juries Jury: A group of citizens who determine the guilt or innocence of a person accused of a crime. Under the YCJA, anyone 14 years or older may be tried by a judge and jury for serious offences. Juries There are 12 people in a jury. The verdict (guilty or not guilty) must be unanimous. This means that everyone on the jury agrees. Anyone 18 or older who is a Canadian citizen is eligible to serve on a jury.  Key Terms Defense: the lawyer who represents an accused person  Key Terms Prosecution: the lawyer who represents the Crown and presents evidence against the accused person  Key Terms Sequester: to remove from outside contact. Jurors are sequestered during the deliberation of the verdict. Responsibilities of Jurors: If you are summoned to jury duty, you must attend. Employers are required to give you time off, but they do not have to pay you. You may be excused from jury duty if you demonstrate that serving would cause you undue hardship. Jurors take an oath to use only evidence and the law to reach a verdict. Juries Would you want to be selected for jury duty? Why or why not? Do you think all citizens should be required to serve on a jury? Why or why not? Justice Advocacy Groups Justice Advocacy Groups Read pgs. 82-83 in textbook Justice advocacy groups are an optional way for Canadians to get involved in the justice system. Citizen-led organizations - no government involvement Justice Advocacy Groups Work to improve the justice system in several ways: 1. Solve underlying causes of crime 2. Provide public education about the justice system 3. Work with offenders to reintegrate into society Housing, job skills, education, counselling, etc. 4. Stand up for rights of offenders 5. Call for measures to improve the quality of the justice system Justice Advocacy Groups John Howard Society - Works with all Canadians / any offender Justice Advocacy Groups Elizabeth Fry Society - Works with women / female offenders Justice Advocacy Groups are not free lawyers!!! The Role of Elders Elders in the Justice System Indigenous practice of sentencing circles to deal with crime are reflected in YCJA Youth Justice Committees Breaking the law affects the entire community, so the community should deal with it and be involved in solutions to reintegrate the offender Elders are respected members of the community who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience Elders in the Justice System Sentencing circles involving Elders start with a smudging ceremony to represent truth, peace, and understanding and get the process started in the right direction Negative influences can lead to a loss of balance and result in criminal behaviour Sentencing circles are an expression of traditional Indigenous culture and values Graph Interpretation Activity Study Guide Chapter 2 Exam Coming Soon