Professor Sankoff's Guide To Criminal Defences
CDE Publishing is excited to introduce a book that will help legal professionals understand the complex world of justifications, excuses and other forms of defence. Introducing Professor Sankoff’s Guide to Criminal Defences – a comprehensive resource written by Professor Peter Sankoff. Within the pages of this carefully crafted resource, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the defences relied upon to avoid convictions in criminal cases. From self-defence to necessity, alibi to mental disorder, Professor Sankoff provides clear explanations and practical insights that will enhance your understanding & application of these concepts.
The book opens by looking at the role defences play in the criminal justice system, what it means to “raise a defence”, the origin of defences, and a look at the conceptual underpinnings of justifications and excuses. After examining the burden of proof, Professor Sankoff analyzes the most significant “non-defence” defences, including mistake, accident, consent and alibi. From there, he addresses a variety of procedural defences, before turning to chapters on mental disorder, automatism and intoxication. The book finishes with detailed coverage of general defences like defence of person and duress, and qualified defences such as provocation.
Read an excerpt:
Whether you’re a seasoned lawyer looking to learn more, a judge in search of reliable guidance or a recent law graduate entering the courtroom, Professor Sankoff’s Guide to Criminal Defences is an invaluable companion. It equips you with the tools and strategies needed to advocate for clients effectively and understand the complexities in this area.
Table of Content
Chapter 1 – The Role Played by Defences
(a) Structuring Defences in Canadian Law
(b) What Does it Mean to “Raise a Defence”?
(c) The Origin of Defences
(d) Justifications and Excuses
(e) The Future of Defences
Chapter 2 – The Burden of Establishing Defences
(a) The Burden of Proof: Generally
(b) Reversing the Burden
(c) The Evidential Burden: The “Air of Reality” Test
Chapter 3 – Non-Defence “Defences”
(a) Mistake of Fact
(b) Accident
(c) Alibi
(d) Lawful or Reasonable Excuse
Chapter 4 – Procedural Defences and the Special Pleas
(a) Abuse of Process
(b) Entrapment
(c) Officially Induced Error
(d) The Special Pleas
(e) Issue Estoppel
(f) Retroactivity
Chapter 5 – Mental Disorder and Automatism
(a) Not Criminally Responsible because of Mental Disorder: Origins
(b) Disease of the Mind
(c) Appreciate Nature and Consequences
(d) Legally and Morally Wrong
(e) Irresistible Impulses
(f) The Automatism Defence
(g) Distinguishing Automatism from Mental Disorder
(h) Burden of Proof
(i) Fitness to Stand Trial
Chapter 6 – Intoxication
(a) Intoxication and General Principles of Liability
(b) Involuntary Intoxication
(c) Intoxication and Mental Disorder
(d) Specific Intent Crimes
(e) General Intent Crimes and the Law of Intoxication
(f) Extreme Intoxication
Chapter 7 – General Defences
(a) Duress
(b) Necessity
(c) Defence of Person
(d) Defence of Property
(e) Authorized by Law
(f) Due Diligence
(g) De Minimis
Chapter 8 –Limited and Qualified Defences
(a) Colour of Right
(b) Correction of Child
(c) Provocation
(d) Infanticide
(e) Unrecognized Qualified Defences
RELEASED IN DECEMBER 2023!
Professor Sankoff’s Guide to Criminal Defences (e-book)
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Professor Sankoff’s Guide to Criminal Defences
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Professor Sankoff’s Guide to Criminal Defences (Combo)
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Professor Sankoff’s Guides Book Package
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Professor Sankoff’s Guide to Criminal Defences & Professor Sankoff’s Guide to Persuasive Legal Writing, printed copies.
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Professor Sankoff’s Guides (the Ultimate Book Package)
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The ultimate Package includes the printed editions of
Professor Sankoff’s Guide to Criminal Defences,
Professor Sankoff’s Guide to Persuasive Legal Writing, &
Professor Sankoff’s Guide to Canadian Animal Protection Law
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