"Designed for those who are planning careers in the Canadian justice system or who will be working with people impacted by various aspects of the system, this text provides the foundational knowledge needed to understand the way the various facets of the Canadian justice system work."--

This introductory text is intended to demystify the law and to provide information on the key components of the Canadian legal system including chapters on: The nature of law and competing theories of law Legal pluralism - how the Canadian legal system interacts with various religious legal systems Sources of Canadian law including legislation and caselaw The legal history of Britain, the reception of English law in Canada, the history of Civil Law in Quebec, and the bijural system The Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms The structure of Canadian government Courts across Canada and the work of judges and lawyers Problems regarding access to justice Substantive law including Criminal Law, Property Law, Contract Law, and Tort Law Procedural laws governing civil disputes and criminal prosecutions.

Unjust by Design describes a system in need of major restructuring. Written by a respected critic, it presents a modern theory of administrative justice fit for that purpose. It also provides detailed blueprints for the changes the author believes would be necessary if justice were to in fact assume its proper role in Canada’s administrative justice system.

The 5th edition has been completely updated, including significant additions to the sections on military law, changes to the provincial court structure (i.e., simplified procedures, case management, and court reform), incorporation of formal and informal ADR, and key charter and constitutional jurisprudence that continues to shape the law in Canada."--Pub. desc.

The book unravels the mysteries of the criminal justice system, explaining how and why we sentence offenders; the reasons behind the system's technicalities, which can benefit the guilty; and why the system is miserly on victims' rights. It points out where we err, particularly with the parole system. Each chapter starts with a murder docudrama.