Privacy in Peril
Privacy rights in Canada have been on the decline for some time, especially as they relate to police powers. More recently with the advent of handheld computing, the risk of serious privacy incursions now inhabits every moment of most people’s daily lives. There is no refuge that is out of reach of the prying eyes of just about everyone from friends and acquaintances to law enforcement.
R. v. K.J.M.: The Jordan Framework for Delay and the Youth Criminal Justice System
The case of R. v. K.J.M. was decided by the Supreme Court of Canada on November 15, 2019. The primary issue in this case was whether or not there was an unreasonable trial delay, and the Court looked to clarify whether the framework set out in R. v. Jordan also applied to cases in the youth criminal justice system. K.J.M. was fifteen years old when he attended a house party and became involved in a serious fight, where he stabbed another youth in the head with a box cutter.
Poisoned by Prejudice: Sexual history as inadmissible evidence in R. v. Goldfinch
It seems that regardless of the strides Canada has taken towards ensuring justice for victims of sexual assault, there are still too many people that believe it necessary or appropriate to examine a victim’s sexual history when trying their alleged assaulterR. v. Goldfinch paints an all too familiar picture: a defendant is accused of a brutal sexual assault, the plaintiff is subjected to the trial jury’s scrutiny of their sexual history with the defendant, jury acquitts the a
Issues of Reliability in Testimony: R v Weldekidan and R v Jovel
Ascertaining the reliability of witness testimony has always been difficult. Even before a trial, statements can be coerced during interrogation – there has been a history of police influence on witnesses to create false statements, typically through the use of threats or bribes. In other cases, the question of memory comes into play.
"People are Pulling Guns" - Vigilante Justice in Rural Canada
Rural crime in Canada, more specifically, theft, is a growing concern and is becoming increasingly prevalent throughout the country. According to 2017 data, police-reported crime in rural areas is 23% higher than rates of reported crime in urban centres. The issue of rural crime is sporadic across the country, with some regions having very high rural crime rates and others seeing minimal rural crime.
