R v Manitowabi: The Significance – and Limits – of a Diagnosis of FASD for Young Persons Involved in the Criminal Justice System

Guest post by Brock Jones, Crown Counsel [1] The Ontario Court of Appeal released a ground-breaking decision today on the significance of a diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (“FASD”) for young persons in criminal. While the Court clearly acknowledged the nature of FASD and its implications for criminal culpability, it also put significant limits…

Criminal vs. Civil Cases

In this post, law student volunteer Tracy Chen explains the different between criminal and civil law cases.Criminal Law http://martin-karcazes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Law-books.jpg The purpose of criminal law is to punish behaviour that offends society as a whole, even though only one person may have been harmed. A criminal case involves prosecution by the Crown (government) against an individual.…

As a Victim of Sexual Assault, What Can You Do?

Scenario:Melissa is a 15-year-old girl struggling with math at school. Fortunately, her new math teacher is extremely nice, offering her extra help with her homework after class. One day, when she goes to his office to ask him a question regarding the new assignment, he accidentally brushes her chest. Confused, she does nothing until he…

Fake ID and the Law: Video

Ever wondered about the potential legal consequences for getting caught with fake or borrowed ID? Check out this video produced by the PLE Team.  Click here to watch the video! Learn about the law around fake IDs in Ontario.  Watch these three teens as they learn about the possible consequences for getting caught with fake or…