People are often confused by the terms homicide, murder and manslaughter. When reading the newspaper, they wonder why one defendant gets life for murder, while another person gets probation for manslaughter, which, in a way, sounds worse than murder. It even gets more confusing when people are confronted with terms like felony murder. After all, aren’t all murders felonies? Here […]
The use of a firearm in the commission of a criminal offence such as robbery or sexual assault is considered to be an aggravating factor (or merit a much more serious criminal penalty). However, using a firearm during the commission of an offence is a standalone charge and is codified within the Criminal Code under section 85. Section 85 applies […]
Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used by one individual intended to exert power and control over another individual in the context of an intimate or family relationship. Pattern: Domestic violence involves more than one or even several isolated incidents of violence. It involves an interrelated pattern that includes a wide variety of abusive behaviors and usually increases in frequency […]
A young offender is someone between the ages of 12 and 17 who commits an offence under federal law, such as the Criminal Code or the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Rather than being treated as an adult, young offenders cases are processed under a special law called the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA)and are now referred to as “young persons” under that Act. Although a young person can still face […]
The crimes of theft and robbery can easily be confused because both involve taking someone else’s money or property. However, while theft and robbery share some characteristics, the offenses are quite different. Robbery differs from theft primarily in that it involves force or intimidation to take property from another person. It is the use of force that makes robbery, in […]
A major problem for decent people living their everyday lives is the take over of towns and cities by violent gangs. This is usually compounded by weakness on the part of the authorities or, as now, fear of offending Political Correctness. This allows the gangs to develop and move into ilicit businesses and corrupt more young followers and harm innocent […]
Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana and nicotine also are considered drugs. When you’re addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes. Drug […]