Criminal Law II: Sexual Offences

Quick Info
(2240E.03)  Course
Instructor(s)
Justice S. Chapman & Justice J. Witkin; Adjunct Professors
Winter
3 credit(s)  3 hour(s);
Presentation
Discussion, lectures
Upper Year Research & Writing Requirement
Yes
Praxicum
No

This advanced criminal law class examines legal issues that commonly arise in relation to criminal sexual offences.  Topics will include:  consent and mistaken belief in consent;  failure to disclose HIV+ status;  access to the complainant’s counselling and other records; the use of text messages and other private records in cross-examination; admissibility of evidence of the complainant’s prior sexual history;  prior complaint and recent fabrication;  admissibility of similar fact evidence;  sex offender registry; and forensic psychiatric evidence. .

Method of Evaluation: Research paper - 7,000 words, excluding footnotes and bibliography, (80% of final grade) and class attendance and participation (20% of final grade).