Key Terms Flashcards by Christina Roy

The legal document listing all criminal offences and penalties in Canada.

Criminal Code

Explanation: Canada’s rulebook for crimes and punishments.

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“Guilty mind” – the intent or knowledge of wrongdoing in a crime.

Mens rea

Explanation: You meant to do something wrong.

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“Guilty act” – the physical act of committing the crime.

Actus reus

Explanation: You actually did the wrong thing.

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Serious crime (e.g., assault causing bodily harm, robbery).

Indictable offence

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Less serious crime (e.g., trespassing, public disturbance).

Summary offence

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Can be treated as either indictable or summary, depending on the case.
(E.g., Impaired Driving, assault, theft under $5000).

Hybrid offence

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Legal guarantee of fair treatment under the law.

Due process

Explanation: Everyone gets a fair shot in the justice system.

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Guidelines outlining acceptable levels of force in response to threats.

Use of force continuum

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Temporarily stopping a person for questioning without formally arresting them.

Detainment

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Taking someone into custody based on reasonable grounds.

Arrest

Explanation: Taking someone into custody because you believe they committed a crime.

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Court order giving police the right to search property.

Search warrant

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Facts or evidence that justify police action (like arrest or search).

Reasonable grounds

Explanation: You’ve got real facts to back up why you’re stopping/searching/arresting someone.

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Rights protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Charter rights

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Lawyer representing the government in a criminal case.

Crown prosecutor

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Lawyer defending the accused person.

Defense counsel

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Release from custody before trial, often with conditions.

Bail

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A court sentence allowing the offender to remain in the community under rules.

Probation

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Early release from prison with supervision and conditions.

Parole

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Actions that break social norms or rules.

Deviance

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The tendency for a convicted offender to commit crimes again.

Recidivism

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A policing model focused on building trust and working with the public.

Community policing

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The study of victims and how crimes affect them.

Victimology

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The process through which people learn norms, values, and acceptable behavior.

Socialization

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Canada’s federal police force.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police – RCMP

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Provincial law enforcement in Ontario.

Ontario Provincial Police aka O.P.P.

The documented handling of evidence to ensure it’s not tampered with. It protects the evidence’s credibility. Break it, and a case can fall apart.

Chain of custody Explanation: keeping track of evidence from the moment it’s found until it’s shown in court. Every step must be documented—no missing links

The communication hub that sends officers to calls.

Dispatch

Short radio codes police officers use to communicate quickly and clearly.

10-codes Explanation: Each code starts with “10” and has a number after it. Think of them like police slang over the radio.

Everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.

Presumption of Innocence

The Crown must prove the accused is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The burden of Proof

The person meant to do the act, but not necessarily anything more

General Intent

The person intended to do the act and had a further purpose (e.g., to rob, to kill).

Specific Intent

The main person who commits the crime.

Principal (Offender)

Someone who helps the main person commit the crime.

Aider

Someone who encourages or supports the crime.

Abettor

Someone who advises or tells another person to commit a crime.

Counsellor

Helps a criminal escape or hide after the crime is done.

Accessory After the Fact

Trying to commit a crime, even if it doesn’t succeed

Attempt

Agreeing with someone else to commit a crime.

Conspiracy Explanation: You agreed to commit a crime with someone else, even if you didn’t follow through.

You’re guilty just because the act happened—intent doesn’t matter. (e.g., driving without insurance).

Absolute Liability

You’re guilty unless you can prove you tried to prevent the offence. (e.g., business spills chemicals but had safety plans).

Strict Liability

Time limit to lay charges for minor crimes (usually 1 year); no limit for serious ones.

Statute of Limitations Explanation: For smaller crimes, the police have a limited time (usually 1 year) to charge you. Serious crimes can be charged anytime.

A legal paper from a judge that lets police do something—like search or arrest.

Warrant

Judge gives police permission to arrest a specific person.

Arrest Warrant

When police take evidence or illegal items from someone.

Seizure

When police legally stop someone, even just for a short time.

Detention

Formal questioning by police to get info or a confession.

Interrogation

Watching someone to gather evidence or prevent crime.

Surveillance

A court decides if the person stays in jail or can be released before trial.

Bail Hearing

The Crown shares all evidence with the defense before trial.

Disclosure AKA providing a disclosure package

A court order that makes someone show up to court or bring evidence.

Subpoena

When an accused person is held in custody while waiting for trial.

Remand aka being "remanded into custody"

A past court decision that sets the rules for similar cases.

Precedent

The process after arrest: fingerprints, photos, entering info into the system.

The booking process

The specific area a police officer is assigned to cover.

Patrol Zone

Walking or biking around a neighborhood to keep an eye on things and talk to people.

Beat Patrol

A set of rules police must follow on the job.

Code of Conduct

An officer’s power to decide what action to take

Discretion

Police must protect people in their custody and act responsibly.

Duty of Care

Talking in a way that calms people down or gains control without force.

Tactical Communication

When a civilian or student goes out on patrol with a police officer to observe.

Ride-Along

A written record of what happened during an event or call.

Incident Report

A list that tracks every piece of evidence collected at a scene.

Evidence Log

A short meeting before patrol where officers get updates, assignments, and bulletins.

Shift Briefing

Cameras used to watch public or private spaces for safety and evidence.

Surveillance Camera (CCTV)

The computer inside a police car used to get info or respond to calls.

Mobile Data Terminal (MDT)

How a person is acting—used to decide the right level of response (compliant, resistant, assaultive, etc.).

Subject Behavior Categories

When society’s rules break down, people feel lost or disconnected.

Anomie

People commit crimes when they can’t achieve success the “right” way.

Strain Theory

The ways society keeps people following the rules (laws, school, parents, etc.).

Social Control

Crime happens when there’s a target, a criminal, and no one to stop it.

Routine Activity Theory

Once someone is called a “criminal,” they may start acting like one.

Labeling Theory

A small group with its own values that may go against the larger society (like gangs).

Subculture

Crime done by professionals—like fraud or embezzling.

White-Collar Crime

Street-level crimes—like theft, break-ins, or assault.

Blue-Collar Crime

When the victim plays a small part in what happened (controversial idea).

Victim Precipitation

Helping offenders change so they don’t break the law again.

Rehabilitation

Bringing victims and offenders together to repair harm and move forward.

Restorative Justice

When certain communities (usually poor or minority) get too much police attention.

Over-Policing

When crimes in a community are ignored or not taken seriously.

Under-Policing

How often crime happens in a certain area or time period.

Crime Rate

Crimes that happen but aren’t reported or recorded.

Dark Figure of Crime

Crime is more likely in areas with poverty, broken families, or lack of support.

Social Disorganization

When the media or society freaks out about something and exaggerates the danger.

Moral Panic

Officially accusing someone of a crime

Prosecuting

Suspending a hearing or trial until a later date or time

Adjournment

The formal process by which a legal dispute is resolved, typically through a judge or authorized official who reviews evidence and delivers a binding decision.

Adjudication

Omitting to do something that a reasonable person would have done

Negligence

What does CCTV mean?

Closed-Circuit Television

What does MDT mean?

Mobile Data Terminal

Key Terms Flashcards

(90 cards)