chapter 9: sentencing

• purposes of sentencing

  1. denouncing unlawful conduct
  2. deterrence
  3. separation or segregation
  4. rehabilitation
• denouncing unlawful conduct

  • it should be clear to the offender that what they did was wrong from the viewpoint of society
  • when convicted offenders are sentenced, their character and past behaviour are considered
  • if they are repeat offenders (recidivism) or if the crime they committed is severe, their behaviour will be denounce in the strongest terms, and that should be reflected in the sentence they receive
• deterrence

  • a sentence is supposed to deter or prevent an offender from committing more crimes
• deterrence can be divided into two parts:

  1. specific deterrence: a sentence that discourages a particular criminal from reoffending or committing another crime in the future
  2. general deterrence: a sentence that discourages the general public from committing particular crime
• segregation

  • another purpose of criminal sentencing is to separate or segregate offenders from society
  • usually involves incarcerating the offender (putting them in prison)
• rehabilitation

  • since most offenders rejoin society at some point, the Criminal Code also states that a sentence should try (in part) to assist or rehabilitate offenders so they can avoid a life of crime
  • recidivism is the act of recommitting the crime (repeat offender)
  • examples of rehabilitative programs include: job training, counselling, and opportunities for education
• other objectives:

  • in addition to denouncing unlawful conduct, specific and general deterrence, segregation, and rehabilitation, there can be a few other objectives in sentencing:

  1. reparations: repaying victims and/or the community for harm done
  2. remorse: judges will consider whether or not the offender expressed sincere regret for his or her guilty actions
• imposing a sentence:

  • before a judge issues a sentence, he or she reviews a pre-sentence report on the offender, it is a report written about the offender
  • this report may include: aggravating and mitigating circumstances as well as victim impact statement
• factors in sentencing:

  • judge considers:

  1. aggravating circumstances: factors that demonstrate the punishment should be more severe (the sentence should be harsher)
  2. mitigating circumstances: factors that demonstrate the punishment should be less severe (the sentence should be less harsher)
  3. victim impact statement: a statement made by the victim (or on their behalf) that describes how the offence affected their life and loved ones
• sentencing options:

  1. absolute or conditional discharge
  2. suspended sentence and probation
  3. conditional sentence
  4. suspension of privilege
  5. peace bond
  6. restitution or compensation
  7. community service
  8. deportation
  9. fines
  10. prison (incarceration)
• discharges

  • for a crime that causes a maximum sentence of less than 14 years, an offender may receive one or two possible discharges:

  1. absolute discharge: offender is released without conditions and with no criminal record
  2. conditional discharge: offender is released with conditions or terms, if completed, result in no criminal record for the offender

  • discharges are usually only granted if it is the offender's first offence and it is not a very serious crime; although there is no criminal record, it is noted that the offender was granted discharge
• suspended sentence

  • a suspended sentence is a punishment that is not carried out as long as certain conditions are met: this sentence usually involves probation
  • probation: a punishment that allows an offender to live in the community, but with certain conditions and supervision (reporting to a probation officer, keep the peace, no weapons, no drugs or alcohol)
  • the main difference between a suspended sentence and an absolute or conditional discharge is that with a suspended sentence, there is a record of criminal conviction
• conditional sentence

  • if the maximum sentence is less than two years, a judge may impose a conditional sentence
  • this sentence allows the offender to serve their time in the community instead of prison
  • a judge must be reasonably sure the offender is not a threat to the public
  • the offender must also "keep the peace and be of good behaviour", additional orders may include curfews or abstaining from drugs and alcohol
• suspension of a privilege

  • this sentence takes away a privilege from a convicted offender for a specific or indefinite period of time
  • the most common suspension of privilege is a driver's licence; another common example is suspending restaurant liquor licence
• peace bond

  • this sentence comes in the form of a court order requiring a person to keep the peace for up to 12 months
  • a peace bond is a common sentence in harassment or assault cases that are not very serious
  • a common criterion for a peace bond includes staying away from a certain person or place
  • if the conditions of the peace bond are met successfully, the charges against the witness may be withdrawn
• restitution

  • also referred to as compensation, this sentence requires the offender to "pay back" the victim for the harm or loss they created
  • a victim may ask the court to consider imposing restitution at the time of sentencing
  • a judge considers the offender's ability to pay when deciding of compensation to impose in a sentence
  • restitution may also include making the offender work for the victim, although this is not common
• community service

  • this sentence orders the offender to do specific work in the community
  • a judge can dictate how many hours an offender must work in the community as well as the nature of that work
  • the objective of community service is to associate the offender with people in the community who are not criminals; this is supposed to decrease the possibility of recidivism
• deportation & fines

  • if a non-citizen commits a criminal offence in Canada, it is possible to sentence them to be deported - sent back to their country of origin
  • Canadian residents who commit serious crimes in other countries may also be extracted (returned) to that country to stand trial
  • for many summary conviction offences, an offender may be fined instead of receiving another type of sentence; fines may also be given for indictable offences
  • if offenders cannot afford to pay, they may be enrolled in a fine option program, to work in the community to pay off the debt
• imsprisonment (incarceration)

  • the most serious criminal sentence an offender can receive
  • there are various types of prison sentences as well as different types of prisons used to incarcerate offenders:

  1. local detention centre: if the sentence os 30 days or less
  2. provincial prison : if the sentence is between 30 days and 2 years
  3. federal prison: if the sentence is between 2 years and life in prison
• prison sentences

  • types of prison sentences include:

  1. concurrent: a prison sentence for two or more offences; to be served at the same time
  2. consecutive: a prison sentence for two or more offences; to be served one after another
  3. intermittent: a prison sentence of 90 days or less that is served on weekends or at night

  • principles of totality: is a rate that look at all the circumstances of a prison sentence to ensure that it is fair
• dangerous offenders

  • a convicted offender who is considered a very serious risk to the public may be given an indeterminate sentence; this means that they will be in prison indefinitely
  • a dangerous offender:
  • displays a brutality that is abnormal
  • has a pattern of aggression that is unlikely to change
  • is indifferent to the effects of their behaviour
  • possesses sexual impulses that may cause pain or injury to others
  • an indeterminate sentence can end if authorities decide the offender is no longer dangerous
• capital punishment

  • in 1976, Parliament abolished (removed) capital punishment, also known as the "death penalty" from the Criminal Code
  • prior to 1962, a person could be sentenced to death in Canada if they were found guilty of first degree murder
  • after 1962, all death sentences were commuted (switch) to life imprisonment, which eventually led to the official cancellation of capital punishment in a close vote in 1976
  • in 2001, the Supreme Court reaffirmed Canada's rejection of the death penalty
• restorative justice

  • a recent approach to criminal sentencing is restorative justice which focuses on forgiveness and involves the community:
  • sentencing circles: common in Aboriginal communities; the offender, victim, and others in the community and brought together to decide on the offender's punishment
  • healing circles: an opportunity for an offender and their victim to voice their feelings and receive their conflict
  • releasing circles: also common in Aboriginal communities and people boards; a plan is prepared to return the offender to society
• compensation funds

  • each province has a victim compensation fund; this is public money to compensate a victim if any of the following circumstance exist:
  • lost pay
  • pay and suffering from injuries
  • medical bills and prescriptions
  • loss of income by dependants if victim dies (e.g. funeral expenses)
• appeals

  • both the crown and the convicted offender have the right to appeal a conviction or sentence
  • an appeal asks the court to review and reconsider the conviction and/or sentence that has been imposed
  • the party who requests the appeal is the appellant and the party who opposes the appeals is the respondent
• parole

  • prison inmates are usually eligible for parole after they have served 1/3 of their sentence or 8 years, whichever comes first
  • a parole board reviews the offender's behaviour in prison and decides whether or not to grant parole - early release from prison
  • a parolee must report to a supervising officer and follow certain conditions until their sentence is complete; if parolees violate any condition, they can be returned to prison
  • full parole is not usually granted to offenders convicted of first degree murder before 25 years
• mercy

  • the federal government has the power to grant a Royal Prerogative of Mercy, which means they can revoke a person sentence or issue a pardon
  • a pardon is granted when an offender is officially excused from a crime
  • parole boards review cases and advise the solicitor-general's office regarding pardons, when are often granted if a person appears to have been wrongfully convicted
• criminal records

  • having a criminal record may create many difficulties for a convicted offender in addition to embarrassment and humiliation
  • a criminal record may hinder or restrict job opportunities as well as the ability to travel
  • many jobs involve bonding, which guarantees the honesty of a person who handles money and other valuables, a person with a criminal record usually cannot be bonded
  • a convicted offender may apply for a pardon; usually 3-5 years after completing their sentence