View source for Enumerated Purposes of Sentencing

{{Currency2|January|2021}}
{{LevelZero}}{{HeaderPrinciples}}
==General Principles==
{{seealso|Purpose and Principles of Sentencing}}
The purposes of sentencing are laid out in section 718 of the Criminal Code:
{{quotation2|
; Purpose
718. The fundamental purpose of sentencing is to contribute, along with crime prevention initiatives, to respect for the law and the maintenance of a just, peaceful and safe society by imposing just sanctions that have one or more of the following objectives:
:(a) to denounce unlawful conduct;
:(b) to deter the offender and other persons from committing offences;
:(c) to separate offenders from society, where necessary;
:(d) to assist in rehabilitating offenders;
:(e) to provide reparations for harm done to victims or to the community; and
:(f) to promote a sense of responsibility in offenders, and acknowledgment of the harm done to victims and to the community.

R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. C-46}}, s. 718; 
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.)}}, s. 155; 
{{LegHistory90s|1995, c. 22}}, s. 6.
|{{CCCSec2|718}} 
|{{NoteUp|718}}
}}

; Fundamental Purpose
The fundamental purpose as stated is that there be "respect for the law" and the maintenance of a "just, peaceful and safe society."<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Whicher|5kdn|2002 BCCA 336 (CanLII)|165 CCC (3d) 535}}{{perBCCA|Hall JA}} (3:0)<br> 
{{CanLIIRP|Priest|6hxl|1996 CanLII 1381 (ON CA)|110 CCC (3d) 289}}{{perONCA|Rosenberg JA}}</ref>

This fundamental purpose will generally take precedent over the welfare of the accused.<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Cole|1t943|2004 CanLII 58282 (QC CM)}} ''per'' Discepola J<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Jackson|jsk20|1977 CanLII 3243 (NS CA)| 21 NSR (2d) 17 (NSCA)}}{{perNSCA|MacKeigan JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Smith|1ftmr|1987 CanLII 64 (SCC)|[1987] 1 SCR 1045}}{{perSCC|Lamer J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Sweeney|1q093|1992 CanLII 4030 (BC CA)|71 CCC (3d) 82}}{{perBCCA|Hutcheon JA}}<br>
</ref>

; How Public is Protected
The public is protected "through sanctions a court imposes upon a person...[e]ach codified objective of sentencing is designed to further the protection of the community."<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Berner|fx6j8|2013 BCCA 188 (CanLII)|297 CCC (3d) 69}}{{TheCourtBCCA}}
</ref>

; Objectives Will Vary By Case
There is no single "sentencing objective [that] trumps the other". It is to "the sentencing judge to determine which objective or objectives merit the greatest weight, given the particulars of the case."<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Nasogaluak|2848x|2010 SCC 6 (CanLII)|[2010] 1 SCR 206}}{{perSCC|LeBel J}} (9:0){{atL|2848x|43}} ("... No one sentencing objective trumps the others and it falls to the sentencing judge to determine which objective or objectives merit the greatest weight, given the particulars of the case.  The relative importance of any mitigating or aggravating factors will then push the sentence up or down the scale of appropriate sentences for similar offences.  The judge’s discretion to decide on the particular blend of sentencing goals and the relevant aggravating or mitigating factors ensures that each case is decided on its facts, subject to the overarching guidelines and principles in the Code and in the case law.")</ref>

In the Canadian system, "the respective importance of prevention, deterrence, retribution and rehabilitation will vary according to the nature of the crime and the circumstances of the offender". None of these factors can be excluded from consideration.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Lyons|1ftlw|1987 CanLII 25 (SCC)|[1987] 2 SCR 309}}{{perSCC|La Forest J}} (5:2){{atL|1ftlw|26}} ("... In a rational system of sentencing, the respective importance of prevention, deterrence, retribution and rehabilitation will vary according to the nature of the crime and the circumstances of the offender. No one would suggest that any of these functional considerations should be excluded from the legitimate purview of legislative or judicial decisions regarding sentencing.")<br>
</ref>

; Meaning of Emphasized Objectives
Where statutes or courts declare that certain objectives are to be emphasized as primary, it would then be prohibited for a court to emphasize secondary objectives over the primary ones.<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Friesen|j64rn|2020 SCC 9 (CanLII)}}{{perSCC|Wagner CJ and Rowe J}}{{atL|j64rn|104}}<br>
</ref>

{{Reflist|2}}

==Denunciation and Deterrence (s. 718(a), (b))==
* [[Denunication and Deterrence]]

== Separation from Society - 718(c) ==
A sentencing judge must take into account "the exigencies of the case" before determining whether total deprivation of liberty is necessary.<ref>
{{CanLIIR-N|Creighton|, [1997] OJ No 2220}}{{at-|6}}<br>
{{CanLIIRx|Shahcheraghi|gx3s6|2017 ONSC 574 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|MOrgan J}}{{atL|gx3s6|19}}<br>
</ref>

; Mental Health
Where a person with mental illness poses a risk to the public the court may need to resort to separating the offender from society, rather than focus on treatment.<ref>
see {{CanLIIRx|Desjardins-Paquette|ft2c1|2012 ONCA 674 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtONCA}}<br> 
{{CanLIIRP|Virani|frdwp|2012 ABCA 155 (CanLII)|[2012] AJ No 507 (CA)}}{{TheCourtABCA}} (3:0){{atL|frdwp|16}}<br>
</ref>

Treatment in the community is generally preferred over incarceration.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Lundrigan|fs0sg|2012 NLCA 43 (CanLII)|[2012] NJ No 231 (NLCA)}}{{perNLCA|Rowe JA}} (3:0){{atL|fs0sg|20}}<br>
</ref> 
However, this is less so for serious offences.<ref>
see {{CanLIIR-N|JM|, [2008] NJ No 262 (P.C.) }}<br> 
{{CanLIIRP|Taylor|fs56r|2012 CanLII 42053 (NL PC)|[2012] NJ No 251 (P.C.)}}{{perNLPC|Mennie J}}<br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

== Rehabilitation - s.718(d)==
Section 718(d) sets out the objective of "assist[ing] in rehabilitating offenders."<ref>
see also {{CanLIIRP|Gill|1msxn|2006 BCCA 127 (CanLII)|206 CCC (3d) 525}}{{perBCCA|Mackenzie JA}} (2:1)</ref> 
Rehabilitation can be seen to achieve the objective of protecting the public as it assists in preventing further offences.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Simmons, Allen and Bezzo|hv01l|1973 CanLII 1522 (ON CA)|13 CCC 65}}{{perONCA|Brooke JA}}<br>
</ref> 

; Rehabilitation Protects the Public
Where there is a "strong chance" of "complete rehabilitation" for a young offender, the imposition of a suspended sentence is a suitable method to protect the public.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Thompson|jsl38|1983 CanLII 5099 (NS CA)|58 NSR (2d) 21}}{{perNSCA|Hart JA}} at 24
</ref>

; Rehabilitation Mitigates Sentence
An offender's "positive potential for rehabilitation" should be to the benefit of the accused on sentence.<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Gouliaeff|ft6x6|2012 ONCA 690 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtONCA}} (3:0){{atL|ft6x6|12}}</ref>

In certain cases, where there is a realistic possibility of rehabilitation, the courts may opt not to impose a jail sentence where it would otherwise be appropriate.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Preston|1d89g|1990 CanLII 576 (BC CA)|79 CR (3d) 61}}{{TheCourtBCCA}} (5:0)</ref>

; Rehabilitation Requires Acceptance of Responsibility
Effective rehabilitation has been seen by some courts as requiring an acceptance of responsibility, likely by way of a guilty plea, and an understanding of the harm done.<ref>
See {{CanLIIRP|Lee|fnsvh|2011 NSPC 81 (CanLII)|979 APR 163}}{{perNSPC|Derrick J}}{{atL|fnsvh|83}}<br>
{{CanLIIR-N|Seguin|, [1997] OJ No 5439 at 18 }}</ref>

; Rehabilitation Always a Factor
No sentence should deprive the offender of any hope of rehabilitation.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Johnson|frdwc|2012 ONCA 339 (CanLII)|285 CCC (3d) 120}}{{perONCA|Blair JA}}{{atsL|frdwc|15| to 25}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Parry|fqn6q|2012 ONCA 171 (CanLII)|289 OAC 201}}{{perONCA|Armstrong JA}}{{atsL|fqn6q|17| to 19}}<br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==Specific Offence Objectives - 718.01 and 718.02==
In 2005 and 2009, sections 718.01 and 718.02 were added:

{{quotation1|
; Objectives — offences against children
718.01 When a court imposes a sentence for an offence that involved the abuse of a person under the age of eighteen years, it shall give primary consideration to the objectives of denunciation and deterrence of such conduct.
<br>
{{LegHistory00s|2005, c. 32}}, s. 24.
|{{CCCSec2|718.01}}
|{{NoteUp|}}
}}
{{quotation1|
; Objectives — offence against peace officer or other justice system participant
718.02 When a court imposes a sentence for an offence under subsection 270(1) {{AnnSec2|270(1)}}, section 270.01 {{AnnSec2|270.01}} or 270.02 {{AnnSec2|270.02}} or paragraph 423.1(1)(b) {{AnnSec4|423.1(1)(b)}}, the court shall give primary consideration to the objectives of denunciation and deterrence of the conduct that forms the basis of the offence.
<br>
{{LegHistory00s|2009, c. 22}}, s. 18.
{{Annotation}}
|{{CCCSec2|718.02}}
}}

{{quotation1|
; Objectives — offence against certain animals
718.03 When a court imposes a sentence for an offence under subsection 445.01(1) {{AnnSec4|445.01(1)}}, the court shall give primary consideration to the objectives of denunciation and deterrence of the conduct that forms the basis of the offence.

{{LegHistory10s|2015, c. 34}}, s. 4.
{{Annotation}}
|{{CCCSec2|718.04}}
}}

{{quotation1|
; Objectives — offence against vulnerable person
718.04 When a court imposes a sentence for an offence that involved the abuse of a person who is vulnerable because of personal circumstances — including because the person is Aboriginal and female — the court shall give primary consideration to the objectives of denunciation and deterrence of the conduct that forms the basis of the offence.

{{LegHistory10s|2019, c. 25}}, s. 292.1
|{{CCCSec2|718.04}}
}}

{{reflist|2}}

==Non-Criminal Code Offences==
* [[Sentencing for Drug Offences]]