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Offence-Specific Sentencing Objectives

From Criminal Law Notebook

General Principles

See also: Enumerated Purposes of Sentencing  and Victims as a Factor in Sentencing

In 2005 and 2009, sections 718.01 and 718.02 were added to created additional emphasis on certain objectives for the following offences against:

  • children (718.01);
  • peace officers or justice system participants (718.02);
  • intimate partners (718.201);
  • animals (718.03);
  • certain vulnerable person (718.04);
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)

See also 718.201 relating to intimate partner violence.[1]

See Also