Criminal Law - Topic 1 - Lecture notes 1 PDF

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Stream'1:' - Dr.'Heli'Askola' - Room:'348,'Building'12' - Telephone:'9905'3326' - Email:'[email protected]'(email'easier)' - Consultation'after'lectures'or'by'appointment' - She'will'cover'what’s'important' - Open'book'exam'in'the'end'(need'to'have'put'together'good'notes'about'topics'we' cover'to'use'them'in'exam)' - No'more'than'1500'words'for'case'analysis' - Can'submit'draft/outline'before'you'submit'actual'work' - Wont'be'marked,'wont'affect'mark,'hurdle'requirement!'To'think'about'doing'task' as'asked'to'do,'draft/outline'SUBMITTED'1'WEEK'BEFORE!' - Need'to'purchase'a'crimes'act' - Or'get'the'provisions'(needed'for'exam!!)' - As'we'go'through'stat'provisions,'print'it'out'+'annotate'that'and'make'a'folder'for' self,'in'that'way'it'will'be'smaller' - Don’t'have'to'read'cases'beyond'whats'in'the'case'book'(but'encouraged'to'read'the' whole'case)' - Textbooks'(recommended'texts)'are'commentaries'on'the'cases'–'if'waller'and' Williams'doesn’t'help'you'inderstand'it'enough'–'in'library'on'loan,'2nd'hand,'don’t' have'to'buy'it,'could'help'understand'principles'if'you'struggle'with'just'the'case' book' - 20th'march'crimes'act'–'okay'with'December'2016' ' What'is'a'crime?' • • • •

Told'a'lot'fo'things'about'crime'every'day' Unlike'property'or'equity/admin'law' Cirme'='omnipresent' Read'Herald'Sun'

' ' Legal'positivist'description:'A'crime'may'be'defined'as'an'act'(or'omission'or'a'state'of' affairs)'which'contravenes'the'law'which'may'be'followed'by'prosecution'in'criminal' proceedings'with'the'attendant'consequence,'following'conviction'of'punishment’'–' Glanville'Williams'(British'legal'scholar)' ' - Crime'and'criminal'justice'as'a'method'of'social'control' - Not'something'every'society'has'had' - But'prevelant'in'a'way'in'regulating'society'in'criminal'justice'systems'today' - Powerful'mechanism' - Legal'positivism:'Validity'of'law'depends'on'sources'not'its'merits,'not'a'question'of' itf'the'law'is'just'or'fair,'but'it’s'a'mtter'of'what'has'been'deisnged'or'ordered' - Criminal'law'is'whatever'law'makers'has'made'a'criminal'offence,'followed'by'a' specific'set'of'proceedings'with'intended'consequence'following'convition'of' punishment'

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Criminal'law'deals'with'things'when'somebody'does'something'–'performs'an'act,' and'that'act'is'sometimes'sanctioned'–'prosecution'follows'from'that' Legal'positivist'defo'tells'us:'Doesn’t'say'about'the'morality'of'the'conduct,'doesn’t' give'guidance'as'to'why'something'is'a'crime,'moral'vacumn,'every'society'will'fill'it' in'a'different'way,'followed'by'prosecution'in'criminal'proceedings'means'theres'a' special'set'of'rules'+'procedure'we'have'to'follow'when'it’s'a'criminal'matter'

' ' Criminal'Law'is,'as'a'body'of'law,'different'from'criminal'law:' - Who'can'bring'the'case:'prosecution'–'role'of'the'state'in'criminal'law'' - Possible'outcomes:'guilty'verdict'or'acquittal;'finding'of'guilt'followed'by' punishment;'stigma'of'conviction' - Sources:'‘the'law’'='common'law'(cases)'+'statues'(crimes'act)' - Criminal'procedeeings:'proecdures'follwoeed'to'establish'criminal'responsibility'(e,g' –'jury)' - Standard'of'proof:'high'(beyond'reasonable'doubt)' - Type'of'public'law,'civil'law'(private)' - Crimes'are'prosecuted'because'theyre'considred'a'public'wring,'agaibst'not'just'the' victim'but'against'the'state,'that’s'why'the'state'prosecutes'crimes'–'public'wrongs' - Criminal'punishment'is'designed'to'be'punitive'rather'than'restitutive' - Publicy'condemn'them'for'what'they’ve'done' - Private'case'–'not'neccesarially' - Crime'–'published' - Purpose:)criminal)law)is)not)about)the)victim,)its)about)the)accused)and)the)state,) victim)is)an)afterthought) - Accused'is'at'the'centre'of'the'criminal'proceedings'–'about'what'they’ve'done' worng'ultimately'(against'STATE'and'victim)) - Has'a'serpate'body'of'law) - Has'special'rules'to'deal'with'what'is'defined'as'a'crime'and'how'we'deal'with'those' crimes' - STATE'BASED'–'we'learn'Victorian'criminal'law,'different'in'each'state' - No'comprehensive'criminal'code'that'is'written'down' - Crimes'Act!'' - More'complex'then'systems'with'a'codified'criminal'code,'' - Homicide'–'definition'is'common'law' - Have'to'prove'individual'commited'the'offence'beyond'reasonable'doubt' - If'youre'NOT'SURE'–'then'he'will'go'free'' ' ' What'definition'didn’t'tell'us:' - Does'not'tell'us'about'the'morality'of'law' - Doesn’t'tell'us'why'we'punish'etc' - Doesn’t'tell'you'if'its'for'vengeance,'teach'a'lesson,'send'a'message'to'anyone?,' doesn’t'say'if'you'need'criminal'law'to'do'these'things'etc' - Gives'no'reason'for'wy'certain'types'of'behaviour'are'considered'to'fall'in'that' bucket' - Nothing'about'the'values'that'we'use''

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Nothing'about'universality'or'temporal'aspect'

' Principles'and'aims'of'the'criminal'law:' - Criminal'law'as'an'instrument'of'social'control,'aiming'to'regulate'conduct'via' prohibition'–'criminal'law'is'inescapable'feature'of'developed'societies'in'which'we' live' - Expressed'in'certain'times'of'harm' - Way'of'forbidding'+'preventing'undesirable'behaviour'–'anything'that'unjustifiably' inflicts'or'threatens'substantial'harm'to'individuals'or'pubic'intrest' - Reprecussions'understood'in'instrumental'terms' - Intrumental'systems'that'aim'at'certain'things' - Both'backward'and'forward'looking'–'reacts'to'past'harmful'behaviour'(the'act),' seeks'to'modify'future'behaviour' - Claims'authority'–'backed'up'by'monopoly'on'violence'state'has'–'only'one'that'can' lawfully'inflict'negative'consequences'on'the'public' - Uses'monopoly'to'achieve'purposes'' - Does'it'to'achieve'certain'purposes' - Tries'to'achieve'certain'aims'–'ultimately'linked'eith'the'purpose'of'punishment'' - Purpose'of'criminal'punishment?'S.5(1)'Sentencing'Act'1991'(Vic)' o ‘Just’'punishment'(retribution):'State'uses'punishment'+'this'system'to' prevent'private'justice,'you'did'harm'you'deserve'it'because'of'what'you'did' in'the'past'' o Deterrence:'specific'(the'offender)'and'general'(the'public):'Forward'looking,' you'did'something'so'we'can'learn'from'this,'achieve'aims'from'reacting'to' this'past'harm,'specific'deterrence'–'teaching'the'criminal'that'the'crime' must'pay,'general'deterrence'–'this'guy'ought'to'be'made'an'example'of'for' all'of'us,'not'just'how'severe'the'punishment'is,'but'also'because'of'the' prospect'of'getting'caught,'very'utilitarian,'relies'on'generalisations'on'how' people'generally'act,'' o Rehabilitation:'idea'that'criminals'ought'to'be'taught'to'see'the'error'of'their' ways.'Reform'etc,'' o Denunciation:'less'idealogical' o Protection'of'the'community:'common'sense,'likelihood'of'recidivism' o A'combination'of'the'above:'judges'set'to'combine'mostly' o ' ' Principles'and'aims'of'the'cmrinal'alw:' - Criminal'procedures'are'underpinned'by'certain'principles'and'presumptions,'e.g;' o ‘The)golden)thread’):)Preseumption)of)innocence,)articulated'by'House'of' Lords'in'1930’s,'articlulates'it'is'important'that'the'prosecution'prove'its' case,'rather'than'the'accused'prove'their'innocence) o Princinple'of'legality:'Nullum'crimen'sine'lege;'Nulla'poena'sine'lege,'no' crime'without'law,'no'punishment'without'law'->'law'has'to'be'clear,' asitainable,'have'to'find'out'what'it'is'and'non-retrospective,'clearly'told' what'it'is'you’re'not'allowed'to'do,'not'just'be'obscure,'and'we'shouldn’t' punish'you'for'things'that'weren’t'criminal'when'you'commited'them.''

o Principle'of'fairness:'Right'to'a'fair'trial'according'to'law'by'an'independent' and'impartial'court,'no'delays,'' o Principle'of'equality'before'the'law:'No'one'is'above'the'law,'richer'–'greater' access'to'resources,'' o Any'criminal'charge'is'made'up'of'multiple'elements,'actus'reus'–'physical' element,'and'mental'state'of'mind'of'the'accused'–'prosecution'has'to'prove' both'those'exist' o There'are'exceptions,'for'instane'with'rug'offences,'the'law'does'sometimes' shift'the'presumption'onto'the'potential'accused'to'prove'that'even'though' drugs'were'found'in'their'presence'they'didn’t'know'the'drugs'were'there,' exceptions'to'modification'of'presumption'of'innocence,'division'of'labour'–' prosecution'does'hard'lifintg' o Aim'to'protect'accused'while'in'trial'+'punish'the'offender'–'accused' protected'from'arbitrary'use'of'state'power,'try'to'folloe's'number'of' principles' ' Personal'freedom'and'the'criminal'law?' - A'behaviour'which'used'to'be'a'crime'and'is'not'anymore:'being'gay,'attempted' suicide'(state'would'kill'you'as'punishment,'religion,'it'was'a'sin'to'kill'even'self'and' if'you'attempted'to'you'forfeited'property'to'state'+'they'killed'you),'adultery' - A'behaviour'that'is'now'a'crime,'but'not'used'to'be:'not'wearing'a'seatbelt/helmet,' some'drugs,'marital'rape,'incest,'bullying/workplace'harassment,'stalking,'' - Example'of'a'behaviour'you'consider'immoral,'but'is'not'criminalised:'corporal' punishment,'adultery,'smoking,'genetic'engineering,'' - A'behaviour'that'is'criminalised'but'you'consider'morally'right:'euthanasia,'use'of' medicinal'marujana,'jaywalking,'homelessness,'' - Decriminalised:'repeal'criminal'provision'and'don’t'replace'it'with'anything' - Legalised:'repeal'some'of'the'privision'that'relate'to'parts'of'it'and'put'in'place' system'of'checks'and'balances'(legal'regime)'or'you'face'fines,'becomes'legally' regulated' - Can'decriminalise'and'legalise'–'becomes'a'civil'thing' - Decriminalised'+'legalised'abortion,'however'theres'abortion'realted'prohibiotns'in' the'crimes'act,'but'theres'still'criminal'prohibtions'that'are'in'place,'' - Learn:' o Criminal'law'in'core'areas'is'linked'to'morality,'most'serious'crimes'tend'to' be'morally'wrong'as'well,'for'example'to'kill'(morally'wrong'to'take'another' life,'and'public'wrong)' o Lots'of'moral'wrongs'that'are'not'followed'by'punishment'at'all'–'cheating' on'spouse,'no'law'because'too'hard'to'enforce,'nor'does'it'serve'a'social' function,'' o Not'neccasiarly'morally'wrong,'but'still'punished'because'we'don’t'like'the' consequences'of'it'–'not'registering'pet,'jaywalking'etc'–'regulatory'offences,' not'concerned'with'morality,'if'we'say'we'will'fine'you'then'you'wont'do'it,' traffic'offences'–'not'concerned'with'whats'going'in'your'mind,'compared'to' murder'etc'–'traffic'offences'less'stigma' o Our'morality'is'contingent'as'is'criminal'law,'what'we'classify'as'a'crime'on' grounds'of'it'being'immoral'depends'on'moral'and'social'values'–'which'

change'over'time,'and'depends'on'society'in'which'we'live,'NSW'v'VIC,' morality'is'temporal'and'context'specific' ' ' Personal'freedom'and'the'criminal'law:' - Should'criminal'law'merely'target'those'individuals'who,'in'one'way'or'other,'harm' others,'maximizing'individual'freedom'of'action'in'other'areas?' - Or'should'criminal'law'seek'to'uphold'some'morality'that'is'common'to'society'and' thus'ensure'the'cohesion'of'the'society'in'question?' - When'is'it'right'to'limit'individual'freedom'to'protect'others'or'society?'–'incest,' abortion' - '' ' ' Debate:' - Law'should'reflect'public'morals' - Law'must'protect'society'as'a'whole' - Public'morals'change'and'the'law'reflects'this' ' Social'order'requires'the'law'to'reflect'privately'held'moral'beliefs:' - Laws'should'protect'community' - To'do'o'they'must'regulate'matters'that'don’t'just'cause'harm,'but'speak'on'moral' beliefs' o Reasons:' o Utalitarianism:'Shared'social'morals'prevent'spotential'harm' o Laws'function'to'not'jut'prevent'harm'but'to'set'the'moral'standards'that' prevent'it'as'well' o ' Public'needs'to'believe'that'the'law'will'protect'their'private'morality' ' - When'you'have'laws'that'restrict'society,'then'how'do'people'stand'up?'Who'even' is'society?' Hart'v'Develin'debate'(on'paper,'not'physical)' devlin'gave'a'lecture'–'then'a'paper' Hart'reposnded'in'a'broadcast'then'became'a'book'and'lectures' Debate'between'Harts'(millier'argument'–'when'to'criminalise'and'not)'and'develins' response'to'that,'Wilfunders'report'–'report'on'law'reform'in'englad'and'walses'in'1950s' which'started'it,'proposed'decriminalisation'of'prostitution'and'male'homosexual'activities' –'on'presumption'they'are'not'harmful'enough'to'criminilise'–'' Mills'–'Book'on'liberty'the'harm'priniciple'–'state'should'only'excersise'its'coercive' (criminal)'power'in'order'to'prevent'harm'to'others,'not'to'prevent'someone'from'hurting' self'or'if'the'others'are'willing'to'be'hurt'(if'agreeing'then'there'is'no'harm)'–' methodological'individualist'–'thinks'everyone'is'an'individual'first'–'they'precede'society,' come'together'to'make'society'but'must'reposect'individual'liberty' Devlin'–'when'responding'to'the'Wilfrinder'report''-'metholodicigal'collectivist'–'society' more'than'just'a'collection'of'inidividuals'–'a'community'–'rooted'in'legal'moralism'–' society'can'produce'the'alw'not'just'to'prevent'harm'to'others'but'to'protect'society'itself'–'

falling'into'question'this'idea'that'mill'put'forward'that'things'are'individual'private'hoices,' he'does'not'believe'that'–'but'that'its'shared'cause'and'morality'that'can'be'identified,'the' way'Lord'Devlin'iditifies'the'common'morality'is'in'refrence'ot'the'Man'in'the'clapin' omnibus'–'man'on'the'bondi'tram'–'every'man'(everyone'who'lives'in'a'non'descript' suburb)'–'when'the'everyman'feels'revulsion'then'we'ought'to'criminalise'things'–'the' average'member'of'society'feels'revulsion'then'the'conduct'cant'be'tolerated'–'popular' idea'of'an'everyman'in'criminal'law'–'' ' ' Personal'freesom'and'the'criminal'law?' - J.S.'Mill'and'the'Harm'Principle:' o ‘The'only'purpose'for'which'power'can'rightfully'be'excersised'over'any' member'of'a'civilized'community'against'his'will'is'to'prevent'harm'to'others.' His'own'good,'either'physical'or'moral,'is'not'sufficient'warrant.'He'cannot' rightfully'be'compelled'to'do'or'forebear'because'it'will'be'better'for'him'to' do'so,'because'it'will'make'him'happier,'because,'in'the'opinion'of'others,'to' do'so'would'be'wise,'or'even'right.' o Methodological'individualist'–'individuals'first,'individuals'proceed'society'–' come'together'to'make'socity'but'society'needs'to'respect'individual'liberty' ' Lord'Devlin'(1959):' ‘Society'may'use'the'law'to'preserve'morality'in'the'same'way'as'it'uses'it'to'safeguard' anything'else'that'is'essential'to'existence’.' - MEhtodoloigcal'collectivist'–'society'more'than'a'sum'of'its'parts'–'more'than'a' coolelciton'of'individuals'–'ruso'like'idea'of'a'general'will'of'sicoety'that'is'behind'his' thinking' - Esperessed'it'in'his'1959'lecture'+'book'–'proposing'an'alt'understanding'in'the' purpose'of'cirm'law,'rooted'in'legal'moralism'not'liberalism'–'society'can'use'law'to' not'just'prevent'harm'from'others'but'to'protect'osicety'itself'–'Devlin'is'then' haouling'into'question'that'Mill'put'forward'thatcertain'things'are'your'private' individual'choices'–'said'there'are'no'such'things,'we'must'have'shared'moralty' which'is'then'enforced'–'Hart'responding'to'this,'common'morality'that'can'be' identified'' - Devlin'identifies'the'common'morality'–'refrence'to'the'man'in'the'clap'+'obminus,' man'on'the'tram'–'the'everyman'' - If'everyman'feels'revulsion'then'we'ought'to'cirmnalise'it' - Talk'about'it'as'ordinary'reasonable'person'' - Devlin'–'belives'….' - Socety'belivess'a'level'of'shared'mprality'to'exist'–'but'immoral'acts'are'not' siffocent'for'criminalisation'–'that'would'be'eroding'freedom'too'much,'does'not' belive'in'one'shared'morality'that'Devlin'believes'in' - If'you'asre'disapproved'by'the'moral'majority'–'doesn’t'mean'you'are'harming' society'because'you'are'doing'so' - Two'opposing'conceptions'of'the'primary'value'in'society' - IS'it'individual'freedom'or'being'part'of'a'social'web'of'society'that'has'a'common' core?' - Hart'belives'there'is'need'for''a'common'core'–'but'can'be'more'limited'

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Criminal'law'isn’t'100%'on'either'side'of'thedebate' These'matters'are'usually'matters'of'reasonable'dissagrement'

' HLA'Hart'(1963):' Some'shared'morality'is'essential'to'the'existence'of'any'society,'but'no'evidence'that' immorality'automatically'jeopardises'society:'‘As'a'proposition'of'fact'it'is'entitled'to'no' more'respect'than'the'Emperor'Justinians'statements'that'homosexuality'was'the'cause'of' earthquakes’.' ' - If'everyone'agrees'ot'what'is'happening'there'is'no'harm'to'others'–'Mill' ' Harm'principle:' - Physucal'aassualt,'sexual'offences,'homicide'–'Milsls'say'they'fall'in'harms'principle' - Drug'ofences'–'not'all'are'causing'a'harm'to'others'–'can'make'an'argument'some' do'(drug'trafficking),'but'drug'use,'is'it'harmful'to'tohers?'Are'they'harful'in' themselves?'Harm'principle'doesn’t'help'that'much' - Legal'moralism'ill'help'in'this'unit'–'most'things'are'not'only'harmful'to'others'but' we'would'also'consider'it'morally'wrong' - Has'to'be'a'physical'threat'–'not'just'a'belief' - Problem'with'legal'moralism'–'wont'help'everywhere'if'something'should'be' criminalised,'problematic'because'it'requires'finding'a'moral'majority'that'thinks'a' particular'thing'deserves'to'be'a'crime'–'what'happens'if'the'majority'wants'to'hurt' the'minority?'Nebulise'but'a'powerful'idea' ' ' R'V'Brown:' - Group'of'saomaschiastic'homosexuals'–'over'a'10'year'period,'willing'participated'in' acts'of'violence'against'each'other'–'including'gental'toruture' - Consent'of'all'aprties'involved,'no'permanent'injury;'all'acts'done'in'private'but' taped'(for'private'use)'' - Charged'under's'47'+'20'of'the'Offences'against'the'erson'act'(1861)'(Eng'+'Wales)' - Q'for'HL:'Where'A'wounds'or'assults'B'occaisinging'him'to'actual'bodily'ham'in'the' course'of'a'sado-masochistic'encounter'does'P'habe'to'prove'lack'of'consent'on'the' part'of'B'before'they'can'establish'A’s'guilt?' - Arguments'for'both'sides?' - Legal'issue:'consent'–to'physical'harm,'perpetrated'with'sexual'pleasure'in'mind' - Prosecute'for'2'offences' - No'previous'case' - Criminal'liability:'even'though'they'consete…'-'Goes'to'legal'morality'–'there'is' something'wrong'for'harming'people'for'those'reasons'–'for'the'reasons'the' perpatrators'had'in'this'case'–'okay'to'harm'in'certain'circumstances'its'not'justified' ' R'vBRown'mahority:' - Consensual'sado-masochistic'homosexual'encounters'which'occiasione'actual'bodily' harm'to'the'victim'were'assaults…otwithstadning'the'vicitmins'consnt'to'the'acts' - Why?' o Soeicty'is'entitled'and'bound'to'protect'itself'against'a'cult'of'violence'

o Possibility'of'proselytistion'and'corruption'of'young'men'is'a'real'danger' o Sado-masochoastic'homosexual'activity'cannot'be'regarded'as'conductive'to' the'enhancement'or'enjoyment'of'family'life'or'conductive'to'the'welfare'of' society' o The'arguments'were'saying'it'is'not'for'the'good'of'sicety'–'endorses'vilence' o Inidividual'rights'–'private'+'consent,'issue'of'individual'liberty'because'it'is' not'a'public'matter' ' R'v'Brown'minority:' - The'state'should'interefere'with'the'rifhts'of'an'individual'to'live'his'or'her'life'as'he' or'she'may'choose'no'more'than'in'neccesarry'to'ensure'a'proper'balance'between' the'special'intrests'of'the'individual'and'the'general'intrests'of'the'indivduals'who' together'compromise'the'populace'at'large'(Mustill)' - It'is'a'matter'of'policy'for'the'legislature'to'decide.'If'society'takes'the'view'that'this' kind'of'behaviour,'even'though'sought'after'and'done'in'private,'is'either'so'new'or' so'extensive'or'so'undersirable'that'it'should'be'brought'now'for'the'first'time' within'the'criminal'law,'then'it'is'for'the'legislature'to'decide' ' ' '...