Criminal Law & Justice

Criminal justice is a complex system, ranging from police investigations, prosecutions and trials, convictions and sentencing, to imprisonment. It deals with some of the most vulnerable members of society, including those accused and convicted of crimes and victims of crime.

When you study criminal justice, you'll cover substantive criminal law, sentencing, criminal procedure and evidence, the operation of prisons, and the many ways in which constitutional rights affect each of these areas.

Our leading scholars explore the use of criminal law through a wide variety of methodological perspectives, from the theoretical underpinnings of criminal justice to policies and practices, as well as systemic problems like wrongful convictions and disparities in the criminal justice system. Their work has helped shape criminal law policy in Canada through scholarly writings, law reform advocacy and appellate litigation.

As a student here, you'll have myriad opportunities to study criminal law, beginning with the first-year course in Criminal Law, which covers general principles of criminal responsibility.

In upper years, you can study criminal procedure, criminal law theory, theories of punishment, international criminal law, comparative criminal law, and the history of criminal justice.