545 a Critique of Canadian Criminal Legislation Part
545 A CRITIQUE OF CANADIAN CRIMINAL LEGISLATION PART ONE I.Introduction Scope of the study The main object of this study is an examination of the concepts of Canadian legislators as to the nature of criminality and their attitude toward the problem of crime. Its purpose is not an exposition, either descriptive or critical, of Canadian criminal law and procedure. It is to be noted at the outset that all the legislation in force in Canada which in some way pertains to the subject of crime is by no means to be found in some section of the Criminal Codel. However, in view of the fact that the Code, 'with its 1152 sections, deals with the great bulk of Canadian criminal law and procedure, it seems justifiable to assume that its history may be taken as fairly representative of the development of Canadian criminal legislation. Therefore the present discussion will be confined primarily to the Criminal Code, with only incidental reference to other statutes. It will be an attempt to consider, in a general way, the sources of the Code, the cir- cumstances surrounding its adoption, its underlying principles, and the course of amendment since it was first established . The matter which will be made the subject of a more detailed consideration will be the attitudes of the legislators towards the crime problem and the results thereof as shown in the development of the Code from the date of its adoption to the present time. To this end, after a discussion of the back- * Submitted as a thesis in the seminar in Criminology in Relation to Criminal Law and Procedure by Professor Sheldon Glueck, and in the seminar in Legislation by Professor James McC.
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