Separation from Society

General Principles

See also: Enumerated Purposes of Sentencing

The greater the offender's future risk to re-offend, the greater the need to emphasize the objective of separating the offender from society.^[1]

A sentencing judge must take into account "the exigencies of the case" before determining whether total deprivation of liberty is necessary.^[2]

A proven history of failure to deal with addiction issues coupled with other risky behaviours can be basis to conclude there is an unacceptable risk.^[3]

Mental Illness

A sufficient risk to the public may require prioritizing separation from society over treatment for a mental illness.^[4] Absent that risk, restraint should normally come first.^[5]

Treatment in the community is generally preferred over incarceration.^[6] However, this is less so for serious offences.^[7]

↑ R. v. Friesen, 2020 SCC 9 (CanLII), [2020] 1 SCR 424, at para 123, <https://canlii.ca/t/j64rn#par123> ("Where the sentencing judge finds that the offender presents an increased likelihood of reoffending, the imperative of preventing further harm to children calls for emphasis on the sentencing objective of separating the offender from society in s. 718(c) of the Criminal Code. ... The higher the offender’s risk to reoffend, the more the court needs to emphasize this sentencing objective to protect vulnerable children from wrongful exploitation and harm (L.M., at para. 30; S. (J.), at paras. 39 and 84).")
↑ R v Creighton, [1997] OJ No 2220(*no CanLII links) , at para 6
R v Shahcheraghi, 2017 ONSC 574 (CanLII), per MOrgan J, at para 19
↑ e.g. R. v. Mutombo, 2025 ONSC 2068 (CanLII), per Corrick J at para 56, <https://canlii.ca/t/kcjps#par56>
↑ see R v Desjardins-Paquette, 2012 ONCA 674 (CanLII), per curiam
R v Virani, 2012 ABCA 155 (CanLII), [2012] AJ No 507 (CA), per curiam (3:0), at para 16
↑ R v , h5212
↑ R v Lundrigan, 2012 NLCA 43 (CanLII), [2012] NJ No 231 (NLCA), per Rowe JA (3:0), at para 20
↑ see R v JM, [2008] NJ No 262 (P.C.) (*no CanLII links)
R v Taylor, 2012 CanLII 42053 (NL PC), [2012] NJ No 251 (P.C.), per Mennie J

[1] R. v. Friesen, 2020 SCC 9 (CanLII), [2020] 1 SCR 424, at para 123, <https://canlii.ca/t/j64rn#par123> ("Where the sentencing judge finds that the offender presents an increased likelihood of reoffending, the imperative of preventing further harm to children calls for emphasis on the sentencing objective of separating the offender from society in s. 718(c) of the Criminal Code. ... The higher the offender’s risk to reoffend, the more the court needs to emphasize this sentencing objective to protect vulnerable children from wrongful exploitation and harm (L.M., at para. 30; S. (J.), at paras. 39 and 84).")

[2] R v Creighton, [1997] OJ No 2220(*no CanLII links) , at para 6
R v Shahcheraghi, 2017 ONSC 574 (CanLII), per MOrgan J, at para 19

[3] .g. R. v. Mutombo, 2025 ONSC 2068 (CanLII), per Corrick J at para 56, <https://canlii.ca/t/kcjps#par56>

[4] see R v Desjardins-Paquette, 2012 ONCA 674 (CanLII), per curiam
R v Virani, 2012 ABCA 155 (CanLII), [2012] AJ No 507 (CA), per curiam (3:0), at para 16

[5] R v , h5212

[6] R v Lundrigan, 2012 NLCA 43 (CanLII), [2012] NJ No 231 (NLCA), per Rowe JA (3:0), at para 20

[7] see R v JM, [2008] NJ No 262 (P.C.) (*no CanLII links)
R v Taylor, 2012 CanLII 42053 (NL PC), [2012] NJ No 251 (P.C.), per Mennie J

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]