CRIM 2261: Criminal Law
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 require the following e-textbook, which can be purchased directly from the TRU bookstore site at: https://thebookstore.tru.ca/site_digital.asp
- Verdun-Jones, Simon N. (2020; 2024). Criminal Law in Canada. Cases, Questions, and the Code. (7th ed.). Nelson.
Type: E-Textbook. ISBN: 9781774625729 / 9780176724412
Assessments
Please be aware that should your course have a final exam, you are responsible for the fee to the online proctoring service, ProctorU, or to the in-person approved Testing Centre. Please contact exams@tru.ca with any questions about this.
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 .
| Assignment 1-1: Introduction Blog | 1% |
| Assignment 1-2: Current Events Blog | 5% |
| Assignment 2: Chapter 1 Questions | 8% |
| Assignment 3: Problem Scenario A | 8% |
| Assignment 4: Problem Scenario B | 8% |
| Research Essay | 30% |
| Mandatory Final Exam | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
Open Learning Faculty Member Information
An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.
