Procès simulé: l'interrogatoire (French Only)

Description

FRENCH ONLY

This activity recreates a key part of every criminal trial: the questioning of the witnesses. Students will learn the basics of the criminal justice system, the steps involved in questioning witnesses and the role of each actor in a criminal trial. Students then act out this part of a trial. This activity appeals to students’ sense of justice. They will role-play, analyze a situation, take a position and formulate questions to get to the truth.

Educational objectives

• To become familiar with Canadian criminal law
• To understand how a criminal trial works and the roles of the different actors
• To plan and implement an oral communication strategy

Subjects and subject-specific competencies

Culture and Citizenship in Québec - Secondary IV

Cultural realities and compulsory main concepts: Justice and the law - Justice and Legal and judicial institutions.

Compulsory specific concepts, and related topics and examples: Principes of justice, Types of justice, Process of a court case.

• Competency 1: Studies cultural realities:
  • Establishes the scope of the object of study:
    • Draws up preliminary questions and responses.
    • Collects information.
• Competency 2: Reflects on ethical questions:
  • Engages in dialogue:
    • Uses methods to support own ideas.
    • Creates conditions conducive to interaction.

Français, langue seconde

• Competency 2: Interagir en français

Duration

Three periods

Broad areas of learning

• Citizenship and Community Life: Promotion of the rules of social conduct and democratic institutions

Cross-curricular competencies

• Uses information:
  • Gathers information and puts it to use
• Solves problems
• Communicates appropriately:
  • Uses the appropriate mode of communication
  • Manages the communication process

Related content

• Criminal Trials: Actors and Steps (Teaching Guide)
• Legal Careers (Teaching Guide)
• Criminal and Penal Cases in the court of Quebec: Procedure
• The Court System
• How Criminal Trials Work
• The Players in a Criminal Court Case
• Being a Witness in a Criminal Court Case
• Differences Between Civil and Criminal Trials
• It can be useful to do the activities in Criminal Trials: Actors and Steps beforehand to help students understand the main steps and people involved in a criminal court case.

External educational tools

• Expérience Justice (Télé-Québec). Topics concerning the criminal justice system in Quebec and intense one-on-one interviews with people who have experienced it first-hand. This is complementary content to a documentary series aired by Télé-Québec. (French only)
• Series of 12 videos (French only) on the steps involved in a criminal trial, produced by the organization Cliquez Justice (a website offering legal information for francophones outside Quebec)

External resources

• LET’S TALK LAW is a service offered by the Young Bar of Montreal. The service lets 12- to 20-year-olds speak to a lawyer for free. This telephone service is available to all youth in Québec, regardless of where they live.
• Legal aid allows low-income persons to receive the services of a lawyer free of charge (or at low cost) in certain situations.
• The Crime Victims Assistance Centres offer free help to victims of crimes.