C Block Criminology - Okay so let's wrap this up. Last week we looked at gangs. From Foreign Policy:
Drugs are just the tip of the iceberg. In the popular U.S. television series Breaking Bad, about a high school teacher turned methamphetamine kingpin, there was an instructive exchange. When the show's antihero, Walter White, was asked whether he "was in the meth business or the money business," he replied, "I'm in the empire business." The same can be said of the DTOs (Drug Trafficking Organizations), which are independent and competing entities. The sale of cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and meth remains extremely profitable. The U.S. Justice Department has put the cartels' U.S. drug trade at $39 billion annually. But the DTOs have diversified their business considerably, both to increase their profits and to exclude rivals from new sources of revenue. For example, they are dealing increasingly in pirated intellectual property, like counterfeit software, CDs, and DVDs. The most destructive new "product," however, is people. The cartels have built a multi billion-dollar business in human trafficking, including the shipment of both illegal immigrants and sex workers.
Gangs are often considered "immoral" and their profit comes from many "immoral" things. Immoral acts are distinguished from crimes on the basis of the social harm they cause. Acts that are believed to be extremely harmful to the general public are usually outlawed, whereas acts that only the harm the actor themselves are more likely to be tolerated. Acts that are illegal because they are viewed as a threat to morality are called public order crimes. I'll remind you that we already looked at the difference between what is deviant and what is criminal and this topic covers crimes that straddle the line between the two. People who lobby hard for their morals to become law are called moral entrepreneurs or crusaders. The power of moral entrepreneurs can be quite strong and we'll see that today.
Think about Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD). From Craig Reinarman's article Social Construction of an Alcohol Problem:
The credibility of MADD, especially at its outset, was impeccable. The parents of children who have been killed in drunk-driving accidents are exceptionally strong symbols. There are few groups of victims who can inspire as much sympathy and adherence as the grieving mother. And this is one of the central foundations of MADD's success. The organisation was started in August of 1980 in Sacramento, California by a woman named Candy Lightner whose daughter had been killed by a hit-and-run drunk driver with multiple DUI (driving under the influence) convictions some 4 months prior. During the criminal proceedings Lightner was appalled by the apparent leniency and lack of concern demonstrated by the justice system towards drunk drivers and the rights of the victim. The campaign began with her tireless lobbying in the initial months and a strong push to make drunk driving a political issue where it had previously not been.
Consider the following: Sir Patrick Devlin stated…
Without shared ideas on politics, morals, and ethics no society can exist…. If men and women try to create a society in which there is no fundamental agreement about good and evil, they will fail; if having based it on common agreement, the argument goes, the society will disintegrate. For society is not something that is kept together physically; it is held by the invisible bonds of common thought. If the bonds were too far relaxed, the members would drift apart. A common morality is part of the bondage. The bondage is part of the price of society; and mankind, which needs society, must pay its price.
As you can see, the power of moral entrepreneurs can be quite strong. So, to curb the power of cartels or gangs should we take some radical action? Should we cut off their source of income (like drugs and sex trade workers)? Here are two questions for you to answer:
- Should drugs be legalized? Why? If you believe drugs should be legalized, think about whether all drugs should be legalized or just a select few. Why should certain drugs be legalized and others not?
- Should prostitution be legalized? Why? If you believe it should be legalized, should all the forms of prostitution described in your text be legalized, or only a select few? If prostitution were legalized should government be able to exercise some control over it?
For more check out this Vice article here or the video below..
For the sex trade question "Should we legalize prostitution"? Think about the two opposing views:
- Sexual Equality View The prostitute is a victim of male dominance. In patriarchal societies, male power is predicated on female subjugation, and prostitution is a clear example of this gender exploitation
- Free Choice View Prostitution, if freely chosen, expresses woman’s equality and is not a symptom of subjugation.
The Supreme Court of Canada struck down the country's anti-prostitution laws in a unanimous decision, and gave Parliament one year to come up with new legislation — should it choose to do so. In striking down laws prohibiting brothels, living on the avails of prostitution and communicating in public with clients, the top court ruled that the laws were over-broad and "grossly disproportionate." The government replaced the law with Bill C-36 (2014) which received Royal Assent and became law on December 6, 2014. These laws are being challenged once again in the Supreme Court of Canada. To find out more check out more on the escort agency challenge here.
D Block Law - Today we will begin our look at criminal law defenses focusing on alibi (disputing the Actus Reus) and automatism (disputing the Mens Rea) and I'll give you a handout that has some really good notes to help you with defenses. We'll review the Kenneth Parks homicidal somnambulism case (sleepwalking murder R. v. Parks, 1992).
In the 2013 movie "Side Effects" Emily Taylor, despite being reunited with her husband from prison, becomes severely depressed with emotional episodes and suicide attempts. Her psychiatrist, Jonathan Banks, after conferring with her previous doctor, eventually prescribes an experimental new medication called Ablixa. The plot thickens when the side effects of the drug lead to Emily killing her husband in a "sleepwalking" state.
After we look at automatism as a defense, we'll also look at the "excusable conduct" defenses of self-defence, necessity, duress, ignorance of the law, entrapment, legal duty and provocation.
BTW you have a test this Friday...here is a review of things to know:
Chapter 4
What is a crime (also just know they are in the Criminal Code)
Purpose of Criminal Law (protect us and our property, maintain order, retribution & rehab)
Summary Conviction, Indictable and Hybrid offenses (what & max penalty)
Mens Rea Actus Reus
MR – Intent; Recklessness; Wilful Blindness; Criminal Negligence
Motive (diff between that and intent)
Attempt & Conspiracy
Parties to an Offence – Aider; Abettor; Accessory after the fact
Court Structure (Provincial Criminal Div; Superior/Supreme Provincial; Prov. Appeal; Supreme Court of Canada)
Chapter 5
RPG
3 Options for police (arrest; appearance notice; arrest warrant)
Steps in lawful arrest
Citizen’s arrest
Legal searches (warrants & exceptions; rules- gender)
Rights upon arrest / detention
Pre-trial release (bail/recognizance)
Disclosure
Arraignment/Plea/Preliminary Hearing/plea bargaining
Chapter 7
Violent Crime
Homicide levels (Murder x2); Manslaughter; Infanticide
Assault/Sexual Assault (for SA age of consent and consent)
Robbery (theft with violence or threat of)
Property Crime
Arson
Theft (colour of right)
B&E (must include intent to commit an indictable offence)
Weapons (firearms) Restricted, Non-Restricted and Prohibited – PAL & CFSC
Street Racing definition and penalty
Prostitution (Procuring & Solicitation)
Drugs (possession and trafficking) medicinal pot – controlled vs prohibited substances
Impaired driving (80 mg / 100 ml = 0.08) – spot checks/breathalyzer/blood test
Chapter 8
Alibi
Non Insane Automatism vs Insane Automatism (NCR) – fitness hearing
Intoxication (intent – specific to general)
Battered Woman (Spouse) Syndrome
Self Defence (reasonable)
Necessity vs Duress
Provocation
Double Jeopardy
Entrapment
A Block Physical Geography - Today is your Gradation unit test. Your first order of business is to relax and then dazzle me with what you know. Answer every question and if you're confused about anything ask for clarification. Make sure you understand what each question is asking of you. Breathe. You have the entire block if you need it (you won't) and then you may finish up your week 10 questions or your Medicine Hat topographic map assignment or you know you're week 9 work that counted on last term...the one that's over now?!
B Block Human Geography - Today we'll look at the key question Where Are Ethnicities Distributed? With this we'll examine this question both in a Canadian and an American context (as the text is American we will supplement it and add Canada to the conversation). The meaning of ethnicity is often confused with the definition of race and nationality. Ethnicity is identity with a group of people who share cultural traditions of a particular homeland or hearth. In Canada more than 200 ethnic origins were reported by respondents to the 2011 National Household Survey, 57.9% of the population reported one ethnic origin and the rest, 42.1%, reported more than one origin. In the 2016 Census, over 250 ethnic origins or ancestries were reported by the Canadian population. Who are they and where are they distributed across Canada are what we'll look at today.
Vancouver Sun: Almost 7 in 10 Metro residents will be non-white in two decades
Ethnic and cultural origins of Canadians: Portrait of a rich heritage
CBC News 21.9% of Canadians are immigrants, the highest share in 85 years
CTV News Latest census numbers showcase Canada's ever-evolving ethnic diversity
Open Text BC Introduction to Sociology text "Race and Ethnicity" chapter
2 comments:
The common law defines the crime of burgarly as “the breaking ans entering of a dwelling house of another in the nighttime with the intent to commit an indictable offence within.
The Criminal Code definition of break and enter includes three different categories of the offence:
Break and enter and committing an indictable offence.
Break and enter and committing an indictable offence;
Break out of a place and intending or actually committing an indictable offence.
1.- They must learn the the many skills needed to commit lucrative break qnd enters. These skills may include gaining entry into home and and apartments; selecting targets with high potencial payoffs; choosing items with a high resale value; opening safes properly without demanging their contents and using the proper equipment including cutting torches, electric saws explosives and metal bars.
2.- The good burglar must be able to team up to form a criminal gang. Choosing trustworthy companions is essential if the obstacles to completing a successful job
3.-it must have good inside information
4.-it must cultivate fences or buyers for stolen wares. Learn how to successfully sell these goods for a reasonable profit
*Targets are often acquaintances.
*Drug dealers are a favoured target because
they have lots of cash and drugs, and victims
aren't going to call police.
*Tipsters help the burglars select attractive
fargets.
*Some stake out residences to learn the
occupants' routine.
*Many burglars approach a target
masquerading as workers, such as
carpenters or house painters.
Most avoid occupied residences, considering
them high-risk targets.
Alarms and elaborate locks do not deter
burglars but tell them there is something
inside worth stealing.
Some call the occupants from a pay phone;
if the phone is still ringing when they arrive,
they know no one is home.
*After entering a residence, their anxiety
turns to calm as they first turn to the master
bedroom for money and drugs. They also
search kitchens, believing that some people
keep money in the mayonnaise jar!
*Most work in groups, one serving as a
lookout while the others) ransack the place.
*Some dispose of goods through a
professional fence; others try to pawn the
goods, exchange the goods for drugs, or sell
them to friends and relatives. A few keep the
stolen items for themselves, especially guns
and jewellery
According to a report in 2010 by the anative Womans association of Canada, there where at least 582 Aboriginal women in Canada who went currently missing or murdered. The report said that the Aboriginal woman where more likely to get murdered by a stranger.
Thill killing
Impulsive slaying of a stranger as an act of daring or reckless.
Serial killer
One person who kills a series of victims, usually over an extended period of time.
Mass murder.
One who kills many victims in a single violent outburst
Most serial killers operate over an extended perios of months and even years and they can be distinguished from mass murders who kill many victims in a single violent outburst.
Motivation
for multiple murder. Serial muder.
Power Inpired by sadistic fantasies,
a man tortures and kills a series of strangers to
Satisfy his need for control and domiance.
Revenge. Grossly mistreated as a child, a man avenges his past by slaying women who
reminded him of his mother
Loyalty A team of killers turn murder into a ritual for proving their dedication and
commitment to one another
Profit. A woman poisons to death a series of husbands in order to collect on their life insurance
Terror. A profoundly paranoid man commits a series of bombings to warn the world
of impending doom
Mass murder
A pseudo-commando, dressed in battle fatigues and armed with a semiautomatic, turns a shopping mall into a “war zone”
Power
Revenge After being fired from his job, a gunman returns to the worksite and opens fire on his former boss and co-workers
Loyalty A depressed husband/father kills his entire family and himself to remove them from their miserable existence to a better life
Profit. A band of armed robbers executes the employees of a store to eliminate all witnesses to their crime
Terror. A group of anti government extremists blows up a train to send a political message
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