Offences of Violence (Sentencing)

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General Principles

A key societal right for all people is the right to be "free from unconsented invasions on his or her physical security or dignity". It is a "central purpose" of the criminal law to protect the public from such invasions.

Provocation will have an effect on sentence for assault. Where the injury occurred while in an initially consensual fight the sentence will be less than where the attack was unprovoked and against a defenceless victim.

In offences of violence involving a weapon, "the primary sentencing objectives to be applied are deterrence and protection of the public."

Random acts of violence upon strangers will often attract jail sentence.

Sports-related violence can frequently allow for discharges.

General Factors

Key Aggravating Factors

1. History of spousal abuse / previously assaulted same victim
2. Criminal record for violence or related convictions
3. Spouse or common law spouse is victim = breach of trust
4. Serious injuries to complainant
5. Planned or pre-meditated
6. Use of weapon
7. Children witnessed the assault or were present when the assault occurred
8. Offence occurred in the home
9. Degradation of victim
10. Separate acts occurring over a period of time
11. No remorse
12. Home invasion
13. Intoxicated at time of offence

Other Factors

1. degree of provocation
2. circumstances that make it desirable to preserve the family relationship
3. evidence that it was out of character or isolated event

Domestic Violence

Section 718.2(a)(ii) provides that “evidence that the offender, in committing the offence, abused the offender’s spouse or common law partner...shall be deemed to be an aggravating factor." This can include those who are in a sexual relationship but may not be co-habitating.

A spousal connection between the offender and victim is an aggravating factor at common law.

Denunciation and Deterrence are Primary
The primary principles are denunciation and general deterrence for domestic violence offences.

Offences of violence that are between ex-partners would not be considered a case of domestic violence.

Courts are not to tolerate domestic violence within the communities.

Custodial sentences are considered the norm where significant bodily harm has been inflicted in a domestic violence situation. This is in part due to courts recognizing that domestic violence is often part of continuous abuse ongoing in the relationship.

Position of Trust

Position of Trust as a Factor in Sentencing

Child Victims

Offences of violence against children by their parents requires a strong response due to their inability to defend themselves and the fiduciary duty towards them.

The most important factors to consider is the child's exposure to harm and the forseeability of the harm.

Certain courts have divided offences involving the assault of children into three categories:

1. cases involving the application of force with the expectation of causing injury or indifference to it;
2. cases involving the application of force where a parent was immature and unskilled and acting out of emotional upset, frustration or temper and did not fully appreciate the serious injuries which might result; and
3. cases involving diminished responsibility through mental disorder where the abnormal mental condition of the accused requires the treatment of the offender to be given priority over the principles of general and individual deterrence.

Peace Officers

Police officers put themselves in harm's way to protect the community and preserve a just, peaceful and safe society. "Violent attacks upon police officers who are doing their duty are attacks on the rule of law and on the safety and well-being of the community as a whole. Sentences imposed for those attacks must reflect the vulnerability of the police officers, society's dependence on the police, and society’s determination to avoid a policing mentality which invites easy resort to violence in the execution of the policing function."

Transit Workers

Aggravating circumstance — assault against a public transit operator
269.01 (1) When a court imposes a sentence for an offence referred to in paragraph 264.1(1)(a) or any of sections 266 to 269, it shall consider as an aggravating circumstance the fact that the victim of the offence was, at the time of the commission of the offence, a public transit operator engaged in the performance of his or her duty.

Definitions
(2) The following definitions apply in this section.
“public transit operator” means an individual who operates a vehicle used in the provision of passenger transportation services to the public, and includes an individual who operates a school bus.
“vehicle” includes a bus, paratransit vehicle, licensed taxi cab, train, subway, tram and ferry.
2015, c. 1, s. 1.

– CCC

Offender a Persons in Authority

Factors to offences of violence by police officers:

1. Was the officer on duty at the time or off duty?
2. Was the offence committed spontaneously in the heat of the moment or was it committed continually or with time for the officer to consider his actions?
3. Was there a concern for his personal or fellow officers’ safety at the time of the assault?
4. Was the victim a prisoner in the officer’s custody in an institution?
5. What was the nature of the assault?
6. What were the injuries suffered by the victim?
7. Was the sentencing at the conclusion of a trial or was it a result of a guilty plea?
8. Did the officer express or show remorse?
9. Did the officer impede or assist the resulting police investigation of his actions?
10. What was the experience and rank of the officer at the time of the offence?