Course

Criminal Procedure and Evidence

Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Department
Criminology
Course code
CRIM 3362
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course examines various topics in criminal procedure and evidence in Canada. It is designed to explain and critique the legal rules pertaining to the gathering of evidence, the court process, the admissibility of evidence at trial and post-conviction sentencing, appeals, and other remedies.
Course content

During the semester the following topics will be studied:

  1. Introduction
    • Constitution Act, 1867
    • Charter Rights
    • Case Law and Research
  2. Offence Classification
    • Classification of Offences
    • Elections
    • Jurisdiction of the Court
    • Trial Delays
  3. Pretrial Procedures
    • Compelling Appearance of the Accused
    • Judicial Interim Release
    • Information and Indictments
    • Arraignment and Plea
    • Crown Disclosure
    • Preliminary Inquiry
    • Juries and Procedure at Trial
  4. Post Trial Issues
    • Sentencing and Appeals
  5. Charter Issues
    • Evidence and the Charter
    • Search and Seizure
  6. Rules of Evidence
    • Electronic Surveillance and Interception of Private Communications
    • Admissions and Confessions
    • Types of Evidence
    • Exclusionary Rules
    • Judicial Notice
    • Opinion Evidence
    • Secondary Sources
Learning activities

The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives. The instructor will primarily use lectures and may use audio-visual material, guest lectures, seminars, discussions and assignments to cover the material.

Means of assessment

Evaluation will be based on course objectives and carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.

 

An example of one possible evaluation scheme would be:

Midterm exam        35%
Final exam  35%
Research paper  30%
Total 100%
Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to: 

  1. Explain the general rules governing the criminal investigative process in Canada.
  2. Discuss the general matters relating to criminal procedure.
  3. Explain the major laws of evidence in Canada.
  4. Discuss the evidentiary issues in a Criminal trial.
  5. Explain the significance and purpose of the laws of procedure and evidence in the search for truth and the protection of civil liberties.
  6. Explain the importance of compliance with the laws of procedure and evidence.
  7. Critically evaluate components of the investigative, trial and post-conviction process and the procedure and evidentiary rules that govern them.
  8. Research matters relating to criminal procedure and evidence on on-line databases.
Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

Textbooks will be updated periodically.

 

Typical examples are:

Nowlin, C. & Brockman, J. (2017). An Introduction to Canadian Criminal Procedure and Evidence, (6th ed.). Toronto: Nelson.

 

The Pocket Criminal Code. (updated annually). Toronto: Carswell.

 

 Assigned readings of reported cases and library references will serve as reference material for the course.

Requisites

Prerequisites

CRIM 1160

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for CRIM 3362
Athabasca University (AU) AU CRJS 3XX (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU CRIM 3XX (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU CRIM 3302 (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG CRIM 2316 (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CRIM 3XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU SOCI 2XXX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU CRIM 3309 (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU HUMA 3XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO ARTS_O 2nd (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV SOCI_V 2nd (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC SOSC 2XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV CRIM 330 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC SOSC 3XX (1.5)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
35
Remaining seats:
0
On waitlist
3
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N3410
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
15:20
Section notes

See Legal Studies (LGST) for other university transferable law and legal system courses