Contempt of Court (Offence)

This page was last substantively updated or reviewed January 2020. (Rev. # 96178)

• < Criminal Law/Sentencing
• < Offences

Contempt of Court
s. 708 of the Crim. Code
Election / Plea
Crown Election	Summary summary proceedings must initiate within 12 months of the offence (786(2))
Jurisdiction	Prov. Court Sup. Court w/ Jury (*) Sup. Court w/ Judge-alone (*) * Must be indictable. Preliminary inquiry also available.
Summary Dispositions
Avail. Disp.	Discharge (730) Suspended Sentence (731(1)(a)) Fine (734) Fine + Probation (731(1)(b)) Jail (718.3, 787) Jail + Probation (731(1)(b)) Jail + Fine (734) Conditional Sentence (742.1)
Minimum	None
Maximum	fine or 90 days incarceration
Reference
Offence Elements Sentence Digests

Overview

Offences relating to contempt of court are found in Part XXII of the Criminal Code relating to "Procuring Attendance".

Pleadings

Offence Section	Offence Type	Crown Election	Defence Election s. 536(2)
s. 708 [contempt of court]	Summary Offence(s)	N/A

Offences under s. 708 [contempt of court] are straight summary conviction offence. The trial must be held in provincial court.

Release

Offence(s)	Appearance Notice by Peace Officer s. 497	Summons by Judge or Justice s. 508(1), 512(1), or 788	Release by Peace Officer on Undertaking s. 498, 499, and 501	Release By a Judge or Justice on a Release Order s. 515 to 519	Direct to Attend for Fingerprints, etc. Identification of Criminals Act s. 2 ID Crim. Act
s. 708 [contempt of court]					(summary offence)

When charged under s. 708 [contempt of court], the accused can be given an appearance notice without arrest under s. 497 or a summons. If arrested, he can be released by the arresting officer under s. 498 or 499 on an undertaking with or without conditions. He can also be released by a justice under s. 515.

Publication Bans

For all criminal or regulatory prosecutions, there is a discretionary general publication ban available on application of the Crown, victim or witness to prohibit the publishing of "any information that could identify the victim or witness" under s. 486.5(1) where it is "necessary" for the "proper administration of justice". Other available publication bans include prohibitions for publishing evidence or other information arising from a bail hearing (s. 517), preliminary inquiry (s. 539) or jury trial (s. 648). There is a mandatory publication ban in all youth prosecutions on information tending to identify young accused under s. 110 of the YCJA or young victims under s. 111 of the YCJA.

Offence Designations

Offence(s)	Wiretap Eligible s. 183	Dangerous Offender Designated Offence s. 752	Serious Personal Injury Offence s. 752	AG Consent Required	Serious Criminality Offence s. 36 IRPA
s. 708 [contempt of court]

See below in Ancillary Sentencing Orders for details on designations relating to sentencing orders.

Offence Wording

Contempt

708 (1) A person who, being required by law to attend or remain in attendance for the purpose of giving evidence, fails, without lawful excuse, to attend or remain in attendance accordingly is guilty of contempt of court.

Punishment

(2) A court, judge, justice or provincial court judge may deal summarily with a person who is guilty of contempt of court under this section and that person is liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ninety days or to both, and may be ordered to pay the costs that are incident to the service of any process under this Part [Pt. XXII – Procuring Attendance (ss. 697 to 715.2)] and to his detention, if any.

Form

(3) A conviction under this section may be in Form 38 and a warrant of committal in respect of a conviction under this section may be in Form 25.

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 708; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203; 2019, c. 25, s. 289(F).
[annotation(s) added]

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

---

Draft Form of Charges

		Pre-ambles
		"THAT [accused full name] stands charged that, between the <DATE> day of <MONTH>, <YEAR> and <DATE> day of <MONTH>, <YEAR>***, at or near <COMMUNITY/TOWN/CITY>, <PROVINCE>, he [or she]..." OR
		"THAT [accused full name] stands charged that, on or about the <DATE> day of <MONTH>, <YEAR>, at or near <COMMUNITY/TOWN/CITY>, <PROVINCE>, he [or she]..." OR
		"AND FURTHER at the same time and place aforesaid, he [or she]..."
Code Section	Subject of Offence	Draft Wording
708	contempt of court for failing to attend or remain	"... being required by law to attend or remain in attendance for the purpose of giving evidence, did fail, without lawful excuse, to attend or remain in attendance, to wit: [particulars], contrary to section 708 of the Criminal Code."

Proof of the Offence

Proving contempt of court under s. 708 should include: ☐ identity of accused as culprit ☐ date and time of the incident ☐ jurisdiction (incl. region and province) ☐ the accused's conduct seriously interferes with or obstructs the administration of justice or causes a serious risk of interference or obstruction with the administration of justice. ☐ the culprit intended or was reckless in committing the conduct

Interpretation of the Offence

"Contempt" requires a "conduct that is calculated to obstruct or interfere with the due course of justice of the lawful process of the courts." It consists of conduct "that seriously interferes with, or obstructs, the administration of justice." It is not sufficient that there was merely a "misunderstanding."

Actus Reus

The actus reus of the offence is "conduct which seriously interferes with or obstructs the administration of justice or which causes a serious risk of interference or obstructions."

Mens Rea

The mens rea requires deliberate or intentional conduct, or conduct which demonstrates indifference which is akin to recklessness.

Clear Refusal

A judge may convict a person of contempt where there has been a clear refusal to testify.

Failure to Appear

Counsel's failure to appear in court may amount to contempt of court.

Failure to Release Exhibit

A person who fails to comply with an order under s. 605 to release an exhibit for testing is also guilty of contempt.(see s. 605(2))

Jurisdiction

The Superior Court's power to cite a person in contempt of court is "a very important power but it is to be used with restraint."

Testifying Out of Canada

A witness who gives evidence from outside of Canada by way of video will be deemed to having given it in Canada for the purpose of a charge of contempt. (s. 714.6)

Form

708
[omitted (1) and (2)]

Form

(3) A conviction under this section may be in Form 38 [forms] and a warrant of committal in respect of a conviction under this section may be in Form 25 [forms].
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 708; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203.
[annotation(s) added]

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

---

Appellate Review

Appeal

10 (1) Where a court, judge, justice or provincial court judge summarily convicts a person for a contempt of court committed in the face of the court and imposes punishment in respect thereof, that person may appeal

(a) from the conviction; or

(b) against the punishment imposed.

Idem

(2) Where a court or judge summarily convicts a person for a contempt of court not committed in the face of the court and punishment is imposed in respect thereof, that person may appeal

(a) from the conviction; or

(b) against the punishment imposed.

Part XXI applies

(3) An appeal under this section lies to the court of appeal of the province in which the proceedings take place, and, for the purposes of this section, the provisions of Part XXI [Pt. XXI – Appeals – Indictable Offences (ss. 673 to 696)] apply, with such modifications as the circumstances require.
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 10; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203.
[annotation(s) added]

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

---

Contempt in Youth Criminal Justice

Contempt against youth justice court

15 (1) Every youth justice court has the same power, jurisdiction and authority to deal with and impose punishment for contempt against the court as may be exercised by the superior court of criminal jurisdiction of the province in which the court is situated.

Jurisdiction of youth justice court

(2) A youth justice court has jurisdiction in respect of every contempt of court committed by a young person against the youth justice court whether or not committed in the face of the court, and every contempt of court committed by a young person against any other court otherwise than in the face of that court.

Concurrent jurisdiction of youth justice court

(3) A youth justice court has jurisdiction in respect of every contempt of court committed by a young person against any other court in the face of that court and every contempt of court committed by an adult against the youth justice court in the face of the youth justice court, but nothing in this subsection affects the power, jurisdiction or authority of any other court to deal with or impose punishment for contempt of court.

Youth sentence — contempt

(4) When a youth justice court or any other court finds a young person guilty of contempt of court, it may impose as a youth sentence any one of the sanctions set out in subsection 42(2) (youth sentences), or any number of them that are not inconsistent with each other, but no other sentence.

Section 708 of Criminal Code applies in respect of adults

(5) Section 708 (contempt) of the Criminal Code applies in respect of proceedings under this section in youth justice court against adults, with any modifications that the circumstances require.

– YCJA (CanLII), (DOJ)

---

Participation of Third Parties

Testimonial Aids

Certain persons who testify are entitled to make application for the use of testimonial aids: Exclusion of Public (s. 486), Use of a Testimonial Screen (s. 486), Access to Support Person While Testifying (s. 486.1), Close Proximity Video-link Testimony (s. 486.2), Self-Represented Cross-Examination Prohibition Order (s. 486.3), and Witness Security Order (s. 486.7).

A witness, victim or complainant may also request publication bans (s. 486.4, 486.5) and/or a Witness Identity Non-disclosure Order (s. 486.31). See also, Publication Bans, above.

On Finding of Guilt

Offence(s)	Victim Notice of Agreement s. 606(4.1) [SPIO]	Victim Queried for Interest in Agreement s. 606(4.2) [5+ years]	Victim Notice for Restitution s. 737.1	Victim Notice of Impact Statement s. 722(2)
s. 708 [contempt of court]

Under s. 738, a judge must inquire from the Crown before sentencing whether "reasonable steps have been taken to provide the victims with an opportunity to indicate whether they are seeking restitution for their losses and damages".

Under s. 722(2), the judge must inquire "[a]s soon as feasible" before sentencing with the Crown "if reasonable steps have been taken to provide the victim with an opportunity to prepare" a victim impact statement. This will include any person "who has suffered, or is alleged to have suffered, physical or emotional harm, property damage or economic loss" as a result of the offence. Individuals representing a community impacted by the crime may file a statement under s. 722.2.

Sentencing Principles and Ranges

Maximum Penalties

Offence(s)	Crown Election	Maximum Penalty
s. 708 [contempt of court]	N/A	$100 fine and/or 90 days jail

Offences under s. 708 are straight summary conviction offences. The maximum penalty is $100 fine and/or 90 days jail.

Minimum Penalties

These offences have no mandatory minimum penalties.

Available Dispositions

Offence(s)	Crown Election	Discharge s. 730	Suspended Sentence s. 731(1)(a)	Stand-alone Fine s. 731(1)(b)	Custody s. 718.3, 787	Custody and Probation s. 731(1)(b)	Custody and Fine s. 734	Conditional Sentence (CSO) s. 742.1
s. 708 [contempt of court]	N/A

All dispositions are available.The judge may order a discharge (s. 730), suspended sentence (s. 731(1)(a)), fine (s. 731(1)(b)), custody (s. 718.3, 787), custody with probation (s. 731(1)(b)), custody with a fine (s. 734), or a conditional sentence (s. 742.1).

Consecutive Sentences

There are no statutory requirements that the sentences be consecutive.

Principles

Denunciation is one of the most influential factors in sentencing for contempt of court.

General deterrence is a primary objective when dealing with cases of contempt for refusing to testify. The sentence needs to send a message to the community about the breach of the public's duty to testify.

However, rehabilitation does not play a significant role in sentencing for contempt.

The use of this offence is essential for maintaining the rule of law as well as upholding the dignity and process of the courts.

Ranges

see also: Contempt of Court (Sentencing Cases)

In Ontario, the top end of the range of sentence is 3 years for a first offender who commits the offence on the most serious cases such as murder.

Common Law Offence

The common law offence of contempt of court, when prosecuted by summary conviction, is not limited by the statutory ceiling under s. 787.

Ancillary Sentencing Orders

Offence-specific Orders

• None

General Sentencing Orders

Order	Conviction	Description
Non-communication order under s. 743.21	any	A discretionary order prohibiting the offender from communicating with named persons while he is in custody.
Restitution Orders	any	A discretionary Order on application under s. 738, for things such as the replacement value of the property; the pecuniary damages incurred from harm, expenses fleeing a domestic partner; or certain expenses arising from the commission of an offence under s.402.2 or 403.
Victim Fine Surcharge (s. 737)	any	A discretionary surcharge under s. 737 of 30% of any fine order imposed, $100 per summary conviction or $200 per indictable conviction. If the offence occurs on or after October 23, 2013, the order has smaller minimum amounts (15%, $50, or $100).

General Forfeiture Orders

• None

Record Suspensions and Pardons

Convictions under s. 708 [contempt of court] are eligible for record suspensions pursuant to s. 3 and 4 of the Criminal Records Act after 5 years after the expiration of sentence for summary conviction offences and 10 years after the expiration of sentence for all other offences. The offender may not have the record suspended where the offender was (1) convicted of 3 or more offences with a maximum penalty of life, and (2) for each 3 offences he "was sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more".

See Also

References

• Pre-Trial and Trial Motions Checklist