The History of Vagrancy Laws, Applications to Become a Judge Drop, and the Duty to Defend

For most of Canada's history, vagrancy was a criminal offence. While the wording of the vagrancy laws changed from time to time. As of 1972, there were two different forms of vagrancy. The first form of vagrancy made it a criminal offence to beg or be found in a public place without apparent means of support. The second form of vagrancy prohibited people convicted of sexual offences from loitering near parks, playgrounds, school yards or public parks. The case that ultimately de...