Criminal Law Key Terms(with solved solutions)
criminal offence correct answersan action that is considered a crime, as defined in the Criminal
Code
criminalize correct answersto impose a criminal penalty on something that Canadians feel is so
immoral that it must be a criminal offence in the Criminal Code
decriminalize correct answersto remove an act from the Criminal Code that Canadians no longer
feel is severely immoral; thus, the act is no longer a criminal offence (although it may still be
legal)
legalize correct answersto make an act completely legal; that is, it is not in the Criminal Code,
nor is it punishable by a fine
summary conviction offence correct answersa minor criminal offence (in contrast to an
indictable offence), which is tried immediately (summarily) without a preliminary hearing or
jury
indictable offence correct answersa severe or particularly serious criminal offence (e.g., murder,
treason) which has a correspondingly severe penalty, and which proceeds by way of a formal
court document called an indictment
hybrid offence correct answerscriminal offence that may be tried, at the Crown's option, as a
summary conviction offence or indictable offence, with the corresponding less or more severe
punishment
mens rea correct answersa Latin phrase meaning "a guilty mind"; the knowledge, intent, or
recklessness of one's actions, which together with actus reus, makes one criminally liable
actus rea correct answersa Latin phrase meaning "a wrongful deed"; the physical act of a crime,
which together with mens rea, makes a person criminally liable
willful blindness correct answerspretending not to see something, even though a person knows
what is going on
recklessness correct answersa state or instance of acting carelessly or without regard for the
consequences of one's actions
criminal state of mind correct answersthe accused person knew they were doing something
illegal
conspiracy correct answersan agreement or arrangement between two or more people to commit
an unlawful act
aiding correct answersassisting someone to commit a criminal offence. Usually, the person is not
present when the crime is committed, but has knowledge of the crime and has helped through
criminal offence correct answersan action that is considered a crime, as defined in the Criminal
Code
criminalize correct answersto impose a criminal penalty on something that Canadians feel is so
immoral that it must be a criminal offence in the Criminal Code
decriminalize correct answersto remove an act from the Criminal Code that Canadians no longer
feel is severely immoral; thus, the act is no longer a criminal offence (although it may still be
legal)
legalize correct answersto make an act completely legal; that is, it is not in the Criminal Code,
nor is it punishable by a fine
summary conviction offence correct answersa minor criminal offence (in contrast to an
indictable offence), which is tried immediately (summarily) without a preliminary hearing or
jury
indictable offence correct answersa severe or particularly serious criminal offence (e.g., murder,
treason) which has a correspondingly severe penalty, and which proceeds by way of a formal
court document called an indictment
hybrid offence correct answerscriminal offence that may be tried, at the Crown's option, as a
summary conviction offence or indictable offence, with the corresponding less or more severe
punishment
mens rea correct answersa Latin phrase meaning "a guilty mind"; the knowledge, intent, or
recklessness of one's actions, which together with actus reus, makes one criminally liable
actus rea correct answersa Latin phrase meaning "a wrongful deed"; the physical act of a crime,
which together with mens rea, makes a person criminally liable
willful blindness correct answerspretending not to see something, even though a person knows
what is going on
recklessness correct answersa state or instance of acting carelessly or without regard for the
consequences of one's actions
criminal state of mind correct answersthe accused person knew they were doing something
illegal
conspiracy correct answersan agreement or arrangement between two or more people to commit
an unlawful act
aiding correct answersassisting someone to commit a criminal offence. Usually, the person is not
present when the crime is committed, but has knowledge of the crime and has helped through
