Glossary

AuthorKent Roach
Pages605-611
605
GLOSSARY
Absolute disc harge. A disposition in which no conviction is recorded. It
is available if there is no mi nimum penalty, the oence is not punishable
by life or fourteen years’ imprison ment, and the judge determines that it
is in the accused’s best interests and not contrary to the public interest.
Absolute liability. An oence for which the accused is guilty once it is
proven that the prohibited act, or actus reus, was committe d and regard-
less of the existence of any fault, including negligence.
Actus reus. The prohibited act in a criminal or regul atory oence. Proof
of the actus reus may also include the requirement that the prohibited
act be voluntarily and consciously committed by the accused.
Aiding or abetting. Intentionally assisting or encouraging a crime and,
by doing so, becoming a party to the crime.
Appellate court. A court that reviews the accus ed’s conviction or acquit-
tal at trial. In summary conviction matters, appeals are usually heard
by superior courts, while in indictable matters, appeals are heard by
the provincial courts of appeal. Courts, such as the Supreme Court of
Canada, which hear sub sequent appeals are also called appellate court s.
Arbitrariness. A principle of fundamental justice that is infringed by a
law that does not advance or is inconsistent with its objective.
Attempt. An attempted crime occurs when the accused does someth ing
beyond mere preparation for the purpose of committing a cr ime. It is a

Get this document and AI-powered insights with a free trial of vLex and Vincent AI

Get Started for Free

Unlock full access with a free 7-day trial

Transform your legal research with vLex

  • Complete access to the largest collection of common law case law on one platform

  • Generate AI case summaries that instantly highlight key legal issues

  • Advanced search capabilities with precise filtering and sorting options

  • Comprehensive legal content with documents across 100+ jurisdictions

  • Trusted by 2 million professionals including top global firms

  • Access AI-Powered Research with Vincent AI: Natural language queries with verified citations

vLex

Unlock full access with a free 7-day trial

Transform your legal research with vLex

  • Complete access to the largest collection of common law case law on one platform

  • Generate AI case summaries that instantly highlight key legal issues

  • Advanced search capabilities with precise filtering and sorting options

  • Comprehensive legal content with documents across 100+ jurisdictions

  • Trusted by 2 million professionals including top global firms

  • Access AI-Powered Research with Vincent AI: Natural language queries with verified citations

vLex

Unlock full access with a free 7-day trial

Transform your legal research with vLex

  • Complete access to the largest collection of common law case law on one platform

  • Generate AI case summaries that instantly highlight key legal issues

  • Advanced search capabilities with precise filtering and sorting options

  • Comprehensive legal content with documents across 100+ jurisdictions

  • Trusted by 2 million professionals including top global firms

  • Access AI-Powered Research with Vincent AI: Natural language queries with verified citations

vLex

Unlock full access with a free 7-day trial

Transform your legal research with vLex

  • Complete access to the largest collection of common law case law on one platform

  • Generate AI case summaries that instantly highlight key legal issues

  • Advanced search capabilities with precise filtering and sorting options

  • Comprehensive legal content with documents across 100+ jurisdictions

  • Trusted by 2 million professionals including top global firms

  • Access AI-Powered Research with Vincent AI: Natural language queries with verified citations

vLex

Unlock full access with a free 7-day trial

Transform your legal research with vLex

  • Complete access to the largest collection of common law case law on one platform

  • Generate AI case summaries that instantly highlight key legal issues

  • Advanced search capabilities with precise filtering and sorting options

  • Comprehensive legal content with documents across 100+ jurisdictions

  • Trusted by 2 million professionals including top global firms

  • Access AI-Powered Research with Vincent AI: Natural language queries with verified citations

vLex

Unlock full access with a free 7-day trial

Transform your legal research with vLex

  • Complete access to the largest collection of common law case law on one platform

  • Generate AI case summaries that instantly highlight key legal issues

  • Advanced search capabilities with precise filtering and sorting options

  • Comprehensive legal content with documents across 100+ jurisdictions

  • Trusted by 2 million professionals including top global firms

  • Access AI-Powered Research with Vincent AI: Natural language queries with verified citations

vLex

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT