Criminal law usually addresses only incidents and issues arising within our borders, between persons in Canada. However, especially in today’s global world, there are a number of ways in which Canada’s position internationally – including treaties and agreements made with other countries and organizations – impacts Canadian criminal law. In this article, I will discuss: […]
About Charles Davison
Charles Davison is the Senior Criminal Defence Counsel with the Somba K’e office of the Legal Services Board in Yellowknife, NWT.
Understanding the Connections Between International Law and Canadian Criminal Law
May 4, 2018 By Charles Davison
“Ghosts” in the Criminal Code
May 4, 2018 By Charles Davison
One of the most highly publicized criminal trials in recent Alberta history ended in the fall of 2016 with a degree of judicial embarrassment. Having broken new ground by allowing the live broadcasting of his decision in the case, the trial judge mistakenly found Travis Vader guilty of the murders of Lyle and Marie McCann […]
Viewpoint 42-4: Understanding Parole: Paul Bernardo Eligible for Full Parole in February 2018
March 6, 2018 By Charles Davison
February 2018 marks 25 years since the arrest of Paul Bernardo for the rapes and murders of two young women in Ontario. Following one of the longest and most highly publicized criminal trials in Canadian history, he was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and given the automatic and mandatory sentence required by […]
The Youth Criminal Justice Act: An Overview
January 5, 2018 By Charles Davison
Young persons who commit crimes must be held accountable, but in Canada (as in most other western democracies), because of their age, we approach “youth crime” differently than how we approach crimes committed by adults. In keeping with international standards and scientific understanding, young persons – under the law, those between 12 and 18 years […]
What Do I Have to Tell the Police if They Stop Me?
November 1, 2017 By Charles Davison
In attempting to narrow the scope of this article, I have settled upon three questions which arise most frequently for many people who do not usually come into contact with the police. These questions involve the intersection of our rights as Canadian citizens to live our lives without intrusion or interference from state agencies and […]
