Glossary

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Major Sexual Assault: a sexual assault becomes a major sexual assault where it is of the nature that a reasonable person could foresee that it is likely to cause serious psychological or emotional harm, whether or not physical injury occurs. It includes, but is not limited to, non-consensual vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, fellatio, and cunnilingus.[10]

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SOIRA: is an acronym for the Sex Offender Information Registry Act.[11] Upon being sentenced for a ‘designated offence,’ the judge is required to impose a ‘SOIRA order,’ which requires the offender to report to the closest registration center for a specified period of time.[12] This order is mandatory, unless the offender can show that such an order would be grossly disproportionate to the public interest in protecting society through effective investigation of crime.

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Bail: also referred to as ‘judicial interim release.’ Bail describes the status of a person’s detention before trial.

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Consent: the voluntary agreement of the complainant to engage with the sexual activity in question.[13]

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Disclosure:

 

[10] Ibid., at para 171.

[11] Sex Offender Information Registry Act, S.C. 2004, c. 10 (“SOIRA”).

[12] R v Redhead, 2006 ABCA 84 at para 15.

[13] Criminal Code, s 273.1; R v Hutchison, 20