View source for Reasonable Person Test

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{{HeaderCrimLaw}}
==General Principles==
The "reasonable person test" is standard to be applied when considering a number of offences:
* [[Uttering Threats (Offence)]]
* [[Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle (Offence)]]
* [[Robbery (Offence)]]
* [[Reasonable Apprehension of Bias]]
* [[Exclusion of Evidence Under Section 24(2) of the Charter]]
* [[Grounds for Detention]]

A reasonable person is one who is:
* "reasonable, informed, practical and realistic" who "consider the matter in some detail"<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|RDS|1fr05|1997 CanLII 324 (SCC)|, [1997] 3 SCR 484 (SCC)}}{{perSCC|Cory J}}</ref>
* the person is not a "very sensitive or scrupulous" person, but is "right-minded"<ref>
{{ibid1|RDS}}<br>
</ref>
* dispassionate and fully apprised of the case<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Collins|1ftnd|1987 CanLII 84 (SCC)|, [1987] 1 SCR 265 (SCC)}}{{perSCC|Lamer J}}{{atp|282}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Burlingham|1frk6|1995 CanLII 88 (SCC)|, [1995] 2 SCR 206 (SCC)}}{{perSCC|Iacobucci J}}{{atL|1frk6|71}}<br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==Context-Based Reasonableness==
There is a difference between "contextualizing" an objective standard and individualizing the standard to suit the accused.<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Tran|2dk6j|2010 SCC 58 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|Charron J}}{{atL|2dk6j|35}}<br>
</ref>

; Diminished Intelligence
A diminished level of intelligence or diminished mental capacity can be taking into account in "the application of the reasonableness standard in criminal cases".<ref>
{{CanLIIR|Richter|g7wk0|2014 BCCA 244 (CanLII)}}{{perBCCA|Willcock JA}}{{atL|g7wk0|43}}
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==See Also==
* [[Exclusion of Evidence Under Section 24(2) of the Charter]] - requiring consideration of the "reasonable person"
* [[Aggravating and Mitigating Factors#Prohibited Factors]] - much of sentencing is guided by the judge looking at the offence from a reasonable person perspective