View source for Failing to Provide the Necessaries of Life (Offence)

{{LevelZero}}{{HeaderOffences}}

{{OffenceBox |OffenceTitle=Failing to Provide the Necessities of Life|OffencePage=Failing to Provide the Necessities of Life|Section=215|Act={{OBCCC}} |CrownElection={{OBHybridElection}} |Jurisdiction={{OBJurisdictionAll}} |Bail={{OBBailAll}} |SummaryDisp= {{OBDispAll}} |SummaryMin= {{OBMinNone}} |SummaryMax= {{OBTime|18 months}}|IndictableDisp= {{OBDispSame}} |IndictableMin= {{OBMinNone}} |IndictableMax={{OBTime|5 years}} }}

==Overview==
{{OverviewVIII|failing to provide the necessities of life}}

'''Pleadings'''<br>
{{PleadingsHeader}}
{{PleadingsHybridList|s. 215 [failing to provide the necessities of life] | Yes | {{YesIfCrown}} }}
{{PleadingsEnd}}

{{PleadingsHybridElection|s. 215}}

'''Release'''<Br>
{{ReleaseHeader}}
|s. 215 || {{ReleaseProfileAll}} 
|-
{{ReleaseEnd}}

{{ReleaseAllOptions|s. 215}}

{{ReverseOnusCirc}}

{{IDCriminalAct|s. 215}}

'''Publication Bans'''<br>
{{GeneralPubBan}}

'''Offence Designations'''<br>

{{SeeBelowForAncillary}}

==Offence Wording==
{{quotation|
'''Duty of persons to provide necessaries'''<br>
215 (1) Every one is under a legal duty
:(a) as a parent, foster parent, guardian or head of a family, to provide necessaries of life for a child under the age of sixteen years;
:(b) to provide necessaries of life to their spouse or common-law partner; and
:(c) to provide necessaries of life to a person under his charge if that person
::(i) is unable, by reason of detention, age, illness, mental disorder or other cause, to withdraw himself from that charge, and
::(ii) is unable to provide himself with necessaries of life.

'''Offence'''<br>
(2) Every one commits an offence who, being under a legal duty within the meaning of subsection (1), fails without lawful excuse, <s>the proof of which lies on him,</s>* to perform that duty, if
:(a) with respect to a duty imposed by paragraph (1)(a) or (b),
::(i) the person to whom the duty is owed is in destitute or necessitous circumstances, or
::(ii) the failure to perform the duty endangers the life of the person to whom the duty is owed, or causes or is likely to cause the health of that person to be endangered permanently; or
:(b) with respect to a duty imposed by paragraph (1)(c), the failure to perform the duty endangers the life of the person to whom the duty is owed or causes or is likely to cause the health of that person to be injured permanently.

'''Punishment'''<br>
(3) Every one who commits an offence under subsection (2)
:(a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years; or
:(b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding eighteen months.

'''Presumptions'''<br>
(4) ...<Br> 

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 215; 1991, c. 43, s. 9; 2000, c. 12, ss. 93, 95; 2005, c. 32, s. 11.<br>{{Annotation}}

[* see Constitutionality, below]
|[http://www.canlii.ca/t/7vf2#sec215 CCC]
}}

==Proof of the Offence==
{{ElementHeader}}
{{ElementLeft}}
{{Proving|failure to provide necessities of life (parental)|215(1)(a)}} <ref>
R v JAR, [http://canlii.ca/t/frq7f 2012 BCPC 195] (CanLII) at para 87<Br></ref>
{{InitialElements}}
# the culprit is a "parent", "foster parent", "guardian" or "head of a family" in relation to another person;
# the other person is a "child" under the age of 16 years, creating a "duty of care";
# the culprit "fails...to perform that duty" of providing "necessities of life":
## by permitting the other person to be "destitute or necessitous circumstances" ''or''  
## that "endangers the life of the person to whom the duty is owed, or causes or is likely to cause the health of that person to be endangered permanently", (215(2)(a))
# there is no lawful excuse for doing so
{{ElementRight}}

{{Proving|failure to provide necessities of life (spousal)|215(1)(b)}}
{{InitialElements}}
# the culprit is a "spouse" or "common-law partner" to another person, creating a "duty of care"
# the culprit "fails...to perform that duty" of providing "necessities of life":
## by permitting the other person to be "destitute or necessitous circumstances" ''or''  
## that "endangers the life of the person to whom the duty is owed, or causes or is likely to cause the health of that person to be endangered permanently", (215(2)(a))
# there is no lawful excuse for doing so
{{ElementLeft}}

{{Proving|failure to provide necessities of life (disability)|215(1)(c)}}
{{InitialElements}}
# the culprit has another person "under his charge";
# the other person "is unable, by reason of detention, age, illness, mental disorder or other cause, to withdraw himself from that charge, and ... is unable to provide himself with necessaries of life", creating a duty of care;
# the culprit "fails...to perform that duty" of providing "necessities of life":
## that "endangers the life of the person to whom the duty is owed or causes or is likely to cause the health of that person to be injured permanently." (215(2)(b))
# there is no lawful excuse for doing so
{{ElementRight}}
{{ElementEnd}}

{{reflist|2}}

==Interpretation of the Offence==

'''Purpose'''<br>
The purpose of s. 215 is to establish a uniform minimum level of care to be provided to certain designated persons, a societal standard rather than a personal standard.<ref>
R v Naglik, [http://canlii.ca/t/1fs0h 1993 CanLII 64] (SCC), [1993] 3 SCR 122</ref>

'''Existence of Duty'''<Br>
Factors to consider whether the there is a duty, includes the severity of the injury and the knowledge that it occurred.<Ref>
R v Alexander, [http://canlii.ca/t/2fpn0 2011 ONSC 980] (CanLII) cited in R v Turley [2012] B. C. J. No. 540, at para 146<br>
</ref>

'''Actus Reus and Mens Rea'''<br>
Where the duty is found, the crown must prove:<ref>R v Turley, [http://canlii.ca/t/fqmrp 2012 BCSC 397] (CanLII)</ref>
# the culprit acts or omissions which led to the failure to provide necessaries of life were a marked departure from the conduct of a reasonably prudent person in similar circumstances, and
# it was objectively foreseeable that the failure to provide necessaries would lead to a risk of danger to the life or permanent endangerment to the health of the person to whom the duty is owed.

The accused's conduct is to be considered on an objective standard and so the individual characteristics and experiences of the accused are not relevant.<Ref>
R v Lovett, [http://canlii.ca/t/gx5nd 2017 ABQB 46] (CanLII) at para 11<br>
</ref>

'''"Endangers"'''<br>
"Endangers" refers to exposing someone to danger, harm or risk but does not connote actual injury or damage.<ref> 
also see R v Letourneau [http://canlii.ca/t/1q8d7 2007 CanLII 345] (ON SC) at paras 94 and 95<br>
</ref>

The Crown does not need to prove that the accused knew the risk of danger or that they intended to expose the victim to any risk of danger.<Ref>
Naglik{{supra}} at para 54<br>
Lovett{{supra}} at para 11<br>
</ref>



'''"necessaries of life"'''<br>
"Necessaries of life" are necessaries that "tend to preserve life and not necessaries in their ordinary legal sense".<ref>
R v JAR, [http://canlii.ca/t/frq7f 2012 BCPC 195] (CanLII) at para 82
R v Brooks (1902), 5 CCC 372 (BCCA)<br>
</ref>
This includes protection from harm.<ref>
R v JF, [http://canlii.ca/t/1rxpv 2007 ONCA 500] (CanLII), 222 CCC (3d) 474, at paras 50‑51, aff’d R v JF [http://canlii.ca/t/21bgx 2008 SCC 60] (CanLII)</ref>

The judge must consider "the serverity of the injury and the knowledge that it occurred".<ref>
Turley at para 146<br>
JAR at para 82<Br>
</ref>

Failure to seek medical attention can be a failure to provide necessaries of life.<ref>
R v Pertab, [http://canlii.ca/t/1jgqz 2004 CanLII 47791] (ON SC) at para 29
</ref>

'''Constitutionality'''<br>
The phrase "proof of which lies upon him" violates s. 11(d) and so those words are to be struck out.<Ref>
R v Scott, [http://canlii.ca/t/1nsjz 1996 CanLII 7083] (SK QB)<br>
R v Curtis, [http://canlii.ca/t/6gmt 1998 CanLII 1999] (ON CA)<br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}
===Presumptions===
{{quotation|
215.<br>...<br>
'''Presumptions'''<br>
(4) For the purpose of proceedings under this section,
:(a) [Repealed, 2000, c. 12, s. 93]
:(b) evidence that a person has in any way recognized a child as being his child is, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, proof that the child is his child;
:(c) evidence that a person has failed for a period of one month to make provision for the maintenance of any child of theirs under the age of sixteen years is, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, proof that the person has failed without lawful excuse to provide necessaries of life for the child; and
:(d) the fact that a spouse or common-law partner or child is receiving or has received necessaries of life from another person who is not under a legal duty to provide them is not a defence.<br>

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 215; 1991, c. 43, s. 9; 2000, c. 12, ss. 93, 95; 2005, c. 32, s. 11.
|[http://www.canlii.ca/t/7vf2#sec215 CCC]
}}

===Misc Definitions===
"Child" is no longer defined in Part VIII.<ref>
Section 214 defining "child" was repealed in 2002</ref>

Section 214 defines "guardian" as including "a person who has in law or in fact the custody or control of a child".

The terms "abandon" and "expose" are defined in s. 214 and cover all of Part VIII. The terms "include":
:(a) "a wilful omission to take charge of a child by a person who is under a legal duty to do so", and
:(b) "dealing with a child in a manner that is likely to leave that child exposed to risk without protection;"

Section 2 defines:
* "Mental disorder" 
* "common-law partner"
 
{{Reflist|2}}

==Participation of Third Parties==
{{seealso|Role of the Victim and Third Parties|Testimonial Aids for Young, Disabled or Vulnerable Witnesses}}

'''Testimonial Aids'''<br>
{{3rdPTestimonyAids}}

'''On Finding of Guilt'''<br>
{{606Notice5Y|s. 215}}

{{RestitutionNotice}}

{{VISNotice}}

==Sentencing Principles and Ranges==
{{seealsoSentencing}}

'''Maximum Penalties'''<br>
{{SProfileMaxHeader}}
{{SProfileMax|s. 215 [failing to provide the necessities of life] | Summary Election | 18 months custody }}
{{SProfileMax|s. 215 [failing to provide the necessities of life] | Indictable Election | 5 years custody }}
{{SProfileEnd}}

{{MaxPenaltyHybrid|s. 215|'''5 years incarceration'''|'''18 months jail'''}}

'''Minimum Penalties'''<br>
{{NoMinimumPenalties}}

'''Available Dispositions'''<br>
{{SProfileAvailHeader}}
|s. 215 || any || {{SProfileAll}}
|-
{{SProfileEnd}}

{{AllDispositionsAvailable1|s. 215}}

'''Consecutive Sentences'''<br>
{{NoConsecutive}}

===Factors===

Factors include:<Ref>R v Nickel, [http://canlii.ca/t/frgmj 2012 ABCA 158] (CanLII) at para 36</ref>
# use of weapon or confinement (Nickel)
# use of potentially harmful substances such as drugs or alcohol (Nickel)
# involvement of third parties (Nickel)
# multiplicity of victims or offences over time (Nickel)

{{reflist|2}}

===Range===
{{seealsoRanges|Failing to Provide the Necessities of Life}}
The range for a first time offender where the offence concerns the neglect of the elderly will often be between 4 and 8 months.<Ref>
R v Peterson, [http://canlii.ca/t/1ltcj 2005 CanLII 37972] (ON CA) at para 59<br>
c.f. R v L.S., [http://canlii.ca/t/fqtrl 2012 ONCA 203] (CanLII) at para 1</reF>

{{reflist|2}}

==Ancillary Sentencing Orders==
{{seealso|Ancillary Orders}}
	
'''Offence-specific Orders'''
{{AOrderHeader}}

{{AOrder1| [[DNA Orders]]|s. 215 |
* {{SecondDNA(AorB)Hybrid|s. 215}} }}

{{AOrderEnd}}

'''General Sentencing Orders'''
{{GeneralSentencingOrders}}

'''General Forfeiture Orders'''
{{GeneralForfeitureOrders}}

==History==
{{seealso|List of Criminal Code Amendments}}

{{quotation|
215. <Br>...<Br>
'''Punishment'''<Br>
(3) Every one who commits an offence under subsection (2) is guilty of
:(a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years; or
:(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

...<br>
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 215; 1991, c. 43, s. 9; 2000, c. 12, ss. 93, 95.

|[http://canlii.ca/t/hzb8 CCC]
}}

==See Also==
'''Related Offences'''
* [[Homicide (Offence)]]
* [[Criminal Negligence (Offence)]]
'''References'''<br>
* [[Pre-Trial and Trial Motions Checklist]]

[[Category:Offences with Maximum Penalty of 18 Months]]
[[Category:Offences with Maximum Penalty of 5 Years]]