Enumerated Purposes of Sentencing

This page was last substantively updated or reviewed January 2021. (Rev. # 95386)

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General Principles

The purposes of sentencing are laid out in section 718 of the Criminal Code:

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., 1985, c. C-46, s. 718; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 155; 1995, c. 22, s. 6.

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

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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."

This fundamental purpose will generally take precedent over the welfare of the accused.

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."

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."

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.

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.

Denunciation and Deterrence (s. 718(a), (b))

• Denunciation 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.

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.

Treatment in the community is generally preferred over incarceration. However, this is less so for serious offences.

Rehabilitation - s.718(d)

Section 718(d) sets out the objective of "assist[ing] in rehabilitating offenders." Rehabilitation can be seen to achieve the objective of protecting the public as it assists in preventing further offences.

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.

Rehabilitation Mitigates Sentence

An offender's "positive potential for rehabilitation" should be to the benefit of the accused on sentence.

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.

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.

Rehabilitation Always a Factor

No sentence should deprive the offender of any hope of rehabilitation.

Specific Offence Objectives - 718.01 and 718.02

In 2005 and 2009, sections 718.01 and 718.02 were added:

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.
2005, c. 32, s. 24.

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

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) [assault peace officer], section 270.01 [assault peace officer with weapon or causing bodily harm] or 270.02 [aggravated assault of peace officer] or paragraph 423.1(1)(b) [impeding justice system participant in their duties], the court shall give primary consideration to the objectives of denunciation and deterrence of the conduct that forms the basis of the offence.
2009, c. 22, s. 18.
[annotation(s) added]

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

Objectives — offence against certain animals

718.03 When a court imposes a sentence for an offence under subsection 445.01(1) [killing or injuring certain animals], the court shall give primary consideration to the objectives of denunciation and deterrence of the conduct that forms the basis of the offence.

2015, c. 34, s. 4.
[annotation(s) added]

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

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.

2019, c. 25, s. 292.1

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

Non-Criminal Code Offences

• Sentencing for Drug Offences