Jump, Step and Gap Principles

From Criminal Law Notebook
(Redirected from Step Principle)
This page was last substantively updated or reviewed January 2014. (Rev. # 96219)

General Principles

The "jump", "step", and "gap" principles are principles designed to limit the range of appropriate sentences for offenders who have a prior related records. They are derived from several principles including proportionality, rehabilitation, restraint under s. 718(d), and the totality principle under s. 718.2(c).[1]

"Progressive sentencing" is the approach to sentencing wherein harsher sentences should be imposed on repeat offenders. It is not a separate legal principle but rather a manifestation of specific deterrence.[2]

  1. ↑ R v Bernard, 2011 NSCA 53 (CanLII), 275 CCC (3d) 545, per Saunders JA, at para 26
    Frigault v R, 2012 NBCA 8 (CanLII), 991 APR 266, per Quigg JA, at para 17
    R v Robitaille, 1993 CanLII 2561 (BCCA), 31 BCAC 7, per Lambert JA, at para 9 ("... the theory that sentences should go up only in moderate steps is a theory which rests on the sentencing principles of rehabilitation. It should be only in cases where rehabilitation is a significant sentencing factor.")
  2. ↑ R v Robinson, 2021 NSPC 20 (CanLII), per Buckle J, at para 24
    R v Wright, 2010 MBCA 80 (CanLII), 261 CCC (3d) 333, per Chartier JA
    R v McCrea, 2008 BCCA 227 (CanLII), 256 BCAC 312, per Smith JA, at para 11
    R v Calliou, 2019 ABCA 365 (CanLII)

Jump/Step Principle

The "jump" or "step" principle (also called the "ladder principle" or the "principle of incremental sentencing") states that subsequent sentences passed should not be disproportionate to the prior offence (ie. a "jump" in sentence). A subsequent offence should have an incremental increase proportionate to frequency of the repeated offences.[1] The purpose of this rule is to avoid having the accused re-punished for past bad acts.[2]

A significant jump in sentence is inconsistent with rehabilitation where that is a significant factor in sentence.[3]

The subsequent similar sentence must be progressive.[4] A dramatic increase in sentence (ie. a "jump") due to a recent prior similar record would violate this principle.[5]

The jump principle will be violated when a sentence goes from 2 years to 4 years on subsequent conviction.[6] Or where the sentence goes from probation to 8 years.[7]

  1. ↑ R v White, 2007 NLCA 44 (CanLII), 822 APR 351, per Cameron JA
    R v Muyser, 2009 ABCA 116 (CanLII), 457 AR 216, per Fraser JA
    R v Murphy, 2011 NLCA 16 (CanLII), [2011] NJ No 43 (CA), per Welsh JA
  2. ↑ Muyser, supra, at para 8
  3. ↑ White, supra, at paras 5 to 8
  4. ↑ Muyser, supra
  5. ↑ R v Borde, 2003 CanLII 4187 (ON CA), 63 OR (3d) 417, per Rosenberg JA, at para 39 ("[the jump] principle cautions a court against imposing a dramatically more severe sentence than the sentences imposed upon the offender for similar offences in the recent past. It has little application where the severity of the offender’s crimes shows a dramatic increase in violence and seriousness.")
    R v Courtney, 2012 ONCA 478 (CanLII), 294 OAC 346, per curiam
  6. ↑ Re Morand and Simpson, 1959 CanLII 235 (SK CA), (1959), 30 CR 298 (Sask CA), per Martin CJ
    See R v Clark, 2005 ABPC 40 (CanLII), per Lamoureux J citing Ruby on Sentencing
  7. ↑ R v Sloane, [1973] 1 N.S.W.L.R. 202(*no CanLII links)
    See Clark, supra citing Ruby on Sentencing

Exceptions

The jump rule does not apply where the index offence is greatly more serious than the prior offences.[1] The jump principle has greater application for sentences on the lower range of seriousness as there is a greater flexibility in what is an appropriate sentence.[2]

The jump principle is of "less utility" when dealing with an accused "with a lengthy criminal record on multiple convictions."[3] And also where rehabilitation is not realistic and record is related to the offence.[4]

A jump in sentence may be permissible where a previously lenient sentence was not effective in deterring the offender.[5]

The jump principle cannot trump the principle of proportionality.[6]

It can be concluded that the prior sentence was not sufficiently deterrent and so the sentence for the new offence should be increased to focus on specific deterrence.

  1. ↑ R v Borde, 2003 CanLII 4187 (ON CA), 63 OR (3d) 417, per Rosenberg JA, at para 39 ("[The jump principle] has little application where the severity of the offender’s crimes shows a dramatic increase in violence and seriousness.")
    R v JG, 2005 CanLII 36170 (ON SC), per R. Smith J.
    R v Courtney, 2012 ONCA 478 (CanLII), 294 OAC 346, per curiam, at paras 10 to 11
  2. ↑ R v Muyser, 2009 ABCA 116 (CanLII), 457 AR 216, per Fraser JA, at para 9
  3. ↑ Frigault v R, 2012 NBCA 8 (CanLII), 991 APR 266, per Quigg JA
  4. ↑ R v Lohnes, 2007 NSCA 24 (CanLII), 217 CCC (3d) 392, per Roscoe JA, at paras 40, 42{{{3}}}
    R v Thomson, 2013 BCCA 220 (CanLII), per Harris JA, at paras 7 to 8
  5. ↑ R v Westerman, 2002 CarswellOnt 1041 (C.J.)(*no CanLII links) , at paras 28 to 30, 44 to 49
    R v Ferrigon, 2007 CanLII 16828 (ONSC), , 2007 CarswellOnt 3072 (S.C.), per Molloy J, at paras 8 to 12
  6. ↑ R v Blair, 2005 ABCA 414 (CanLII), 380 AR 383, per Costigan JA, at para 10

Step-up Principle

The closely related "step-up" principle (primarily employed in British Columbia) suggests that subsequent sentences should be increased in "moderate steps" or else it may interfere with rehabilitation.[1] This principle however should not be applied where denunciation and deterrence are the primary goals.[2]

  1. ↑ R v Bush (D.F), 2006 BCCA 350 (CanLII), 70 WCB (2d) 287, per Ryan JA, at para 9 ("the principle … that is often used to describe the philosophy that sentences should usually increase in moderate steps since a sudden, large increase in the length of a sentence may interfere with the goal of rehabilitation, if that is the focus of the sentence.")
  2. ↑ Bush, ibid., at para 9 ("The step-up principle has little application where a sentencing judge determines that the offence in question calls for a sentence in which the primary goals are denunciation and deterrence")

Gap Principle

The "gap principle" directs courts to take into consideration the gaps of time between offences.[1] It gives credit to someone who has made an effort to avoid criminal charges. [2]

The purpose of the principle is to ensure that an offender "who has rectified past behaviour for a substantial period of time should be considered as having better prospects for individual deterrence and rehabilitation."[3]

  1. ↑ R v Smith, 2006 NSCA 95 (CanLII), 211 CCC (3d) 107, per Saunders JA, at para 36: extensive citation from Ruby on Sentencing
  2. ↑ see §8.83 of Clayton Ruby, Sentencing, 7th ed. (Markham: LexisNexis Canada Inc, 2008)
  3. ↑ R v MacLeod, 2004 NSCA 31 (CanLII), 182 CCC (3d) 470, per Cromwell JA, at para 25

See Also

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