BC Parks Law and Its Administration PRKS 1010

Course offerings

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Module 1 - Introduction to Law

• Define common, statute, case, criminal and civil law.
• Explain the hierarchy of the Court System in BC.
• Explain the impact that the Charter of Rights has had on the court system in BC.
• Explain the differences between Federal and Provincial laws.
• Describe the elements of a Criminal Code offence.
• List the elements necessary to obtain a conviction for a Criminal Code offence.
• Discuss the evidence required to prove a Criminal Code offence.

Module 2 - Code and Statute Offences Common to BC Parks

• List the key elements of the offences listed below:
• Causing a disturbance
• Theft under $1000
• Speeding
• Driving without a license
• Consuming liquor in a public place
• Hunting illegally
• Describe the evidence necessary to prove, in court, the points or elements for the above offences.

Module 3 - Authorities and Power

• Describe the powers of arrest available to a Park Official under the Criminal Code and Federal statutes.
• Describe the powers of arrest available to a Park Official under Provincial statutes.
• Describe the special authorities available to Park Officials and the responsibilities that accompany those authorities.

Module 4 - Duties and Responsibilities

• List five legal duties of a Park Ranger under Federal and Provincial statutes.
• Complete a violation ticket as required by a Provincial statute.

Module 5 - Investigations

• Describe the three types of investigations Park Rangers are commonly involved in.
• Describe at least three different types/forms of evidence to be collected.
• List the proper sequence of at least six steps to be taken at a crime scene, or an accident, including proper note taking, plan drawings and photo documentation procedures.
• Describe at least three different authorities that Park Rangers have to get proper names/identification.
• State at least four points to remember when conducting interviews.
• Explain the difference between statements from witnesses versus statements from suspects/offenders.
• Explain the circumstances under which either a Police or Charter warning would be used.
• Define police warning.
• Define charter warning.

Module 6 - Preventative Law

• Define CPTED.
• Provide at least one example of how CPTED would apply to prevent crimes in a park.
• Describe at least two proactive roles/procedures for accident prevention.
• Define the principles of negligence liability.
• Describe the components of the Occupier's Liability Act.
• Describe reactive role procedures.

Module 7 - Emergencies

• Describe provincial search and rescue policy.
• Describe local search and rescue plans and initial responses.
• Describe in general terms the Good Samaritan Act.
• Describe when and how to report missing persons.

Module 8 - Report Writing

• Describe an acceptable style of writing used by investigators to report investigations.
• List at least three contributing causes to ineffective writing.
• Edit a sample document removing at least 20% of the words while retaining the original intent and meaning.
• Remove impersonal introductions and zero words from a sample document.

Module 9 - Statements

• List in the proper sequence nine components or parts of a typical statement.
• Provide two reasons why the Charter of Rights Notice must be given to arrested or detained persons before taking a statement, and provide the most recent definition of 'detained' as interpreted by the higher courts.
• Provide one reason why the police warning must be given to a suspect before taking a statement.
• Describe four different methods of recording information from a statement giver.
• List two advantages and two disadvantages of each method of recording information.

Effective as of Winter 2019

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