View source for Factors of Youth Sentencing

[[Fr:Facteurs_de_la_détermination_de_la_peine_pour_les_jeunes]]
{{Currency2|January|2020}}
{{LevelZero}}{{HeaderYouthSentencing}}
==General Principle==
{{seealso|Principles and Purposes of Youth Sentencing|Sentencing Factors Relating to the Offence|Sentencing Factors Relating to the Offender}}
{{quotation2|
38 <br>
{{removed|(1) and (2)}}
; Factors to be considered
(3) In determining a youth sentence, the youth justice court shall take into account
:(a) the degree of participation by the young person in the commission of the offence;
:(b) the harm done to victims and whether it was intentional or reasonably foreseeable;
:(c) any reparation made by the young person to the victim or the community;
:(d) the time spent in detention by the young person as a result of the offence;
:(e) the previous findings of guilt of the young person; and
:(f) any other aggravating and mitigating circumstances related to the young person or the offence that are relevant to the purpose and principles set out in this section.

{{LegHistory00s|2002, c. 1}}, s. 38; 
{{LegHistory10s|2012, c. 1}}, s. 172;
{{LegHistory10s|2019, c. 25}}, s. 371.
|{{YCJASec2|38}}
|{{NoteUpYCJA|38|3}}
}}

More restrictive sentences are required where:<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|RM|g6skz|2014 MBPC 18 (CanLII)}}{{perMBPC| Corrin J}}{{AtL|g6skz|62}} -- see for overview of principles<br>
</ref>
* The manifestation of unnecessary violence<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|CWW|1p0s5|2006 ABPC 191 (CanLII)|403 AR 344}}{{perABPC|Easton J}}{{atsL|1p0s5|20|}}, {{atsL-np|1p0s5|44|}} and {{atsL-np|1p0s5|403|}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|MD|1z9qg|2008 ONCJ 310 (CanLII)|77 WCB (2d) 844}}{{perONCJ|Finnestad J}}{{atsL|1z9qg|47|}} and {{atsL-np|1z9qg|77|}}<br> 
{{CanLIIRP|Lights|1r850|2007 ONCJ 173 (CanLII)|75 WCB (2d) 457}}{{perONCJ|Trotter J}}{{AtsL|1r850|49|}} and {{atsL-np|1r850|75|}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Smith|22896|2009 NSCA 8 (CanLII)|241 CCC (3d) 10}}{{perNSCA|Hamilton JA}}{{AtsL|22896|40| and 41}}<br>
</ref>
* Where they involved a violent offence committed to fulfill a desire to engage in violent behaviour<ref>
{{ibid1|Smith}}{{AtsL|22896|40| and 41}}<br>
</ref>
* Where the offence is associated with weapons<ref>
{{supra1|CWW}}{{AtsL|1p0s5|20|}} and {{atsL-np|1p0s5|44|}}<br> 
{{supra1|MD}}{{atL|1z9qg|47}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|BCF|20q69|2008 SKPC 98 (CanLII)|79 WCB (2d) 410}}{{perSKPC|Halliday J}}{{AtsL|20q69|29|}} and {{atsL-np|20q69|79|}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|JSR|2382w|2009 CanLII 18884 (ON SC)|2009 OJ No 1662 (Ont. SCJ)}}{{perONSC|Nordheimer J}}{{atsL|2382w|63| to 64}}<br>
</ref>
* Where the offence is conducted without regard for the consequences of the offence<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|DDP|1r1sv|2007 BCCA 206 (CanLII)|218 CCC (3d) 298}}{{perBCCA|Saunders JA}}{{atsL|1r1sv|64|}} and {{atsL-np|1r1sv|239|}}<br> 
{{supra1|MD}}{{atL|1z9qg|47}}<br>
</ref>
* Where the offence is part of a series of offences which have escalating violence and severity<ref>
{{supra1|MD}}{{atsL|1z9qg|19|}} and {{AtsL-np|1z9qg|47|}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|CRB|23nq3|2009 SKQB 176 (CanLII)|334 Sask R 137}}{{perSKQB|Acton J}}{{atL|23nq3|36}}<br>
</ref>
* Where the offence was planned by the youth and involved an intent to harm.<ref>  
{{supra1|BCF}}{{atL|20q69|30}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|SRB|22fh1|2009 ABCA 45 (CanLII)|243 CCC (3d) 419}}{{TheCourtABCA}} (2:1){{atsL|22fh1|12| to 16}}<br>
</ref>

A offence that occurs while being on bail is aggravating.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|BKTS|22wzt|2009 MBQB 56 (CanLII)|237 Man R (2d) 243}}{{perMBQB|Beard J}}
</ref>

The absence of a criminal record is mitigating.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|AJD|22mvc|2009 NSSC 56 (CanLII)|877 APR 308}}{{perNSSC|A Boudreau J}}{{atL|22mvc|53}}<br>
</ref>

The offender's responsibility will be reduced where the act occurs in unusual circumstances, out of character, or was the product of impulsivity.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|TWT|20rxr|2008 ABCA 306 (CanLII)|437 AR 321}}{{TheCourtABCA}}{{atL|20rxr|8}}<br>
{{supra1|AJD}}{{atL|22mvc|51}}<br>
</ref>

The court must take into account the offender's relative low level of maturity, poor education, absence of adult guidance and history of disadvantage.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|CK|1p2zx|2006 ONCJ 283 (CanLII)|211 CCC (3d) 426}}{{perONCJ|Duncan J}}{{AtsL|1p2zx|47| to 48}}<br>
{{supra1|DDP}}{{atL|1r1sv|65}}<br>
{{supra1|TWT}}{{atL|20rxr|8}}<br>
</ref>

; Remand Credit
Section 38(3)(d) does not prevent the imposition of a maximum penalty despite the presence of reman credit.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|RRJ|273vr|2009 BCCA 580 (CanLII)|250 CCC (3d) 3}}{{perBCCA|Frankel JA}}
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==See Also==
* [[Principles and Purposes of Youth Sentencing]]
* [[Parties to an Offence]]