On Sentencing Adults

Excerpts from The Criminal Code

There are several sentencing principles involved in the sentencing of adults:

• Denunciation: The sentence must demonstrate society’s disapproval of the behavior in question.
• General Deterrence: The sentence must send a message to others who commit similar offences.
• Specific Deterrence: There must be a strong message sent to this individual so that it does not happen again.
• Rehabilitation: Everyone should be given the opportunity to improve their behavior and leave criminal activity behind.

Potential Dispositions and/or Sentences:

• Diversion out of the criminal process
• Signing of a peace bond (a promise to the court to abide by certain stipulated conditions) with charges being withdrawn
• Conditional and Absolute Discharges which mean a finding of guilt but no criminal record
• Probation where you are required to abide by conditions imposed by the judge and report to a probation officer
• Pay a fine or make restitution to the victim
• House arrest on a conditional sentence with conditions in addition to probation (sort of like probation on steroids) and
• Real Jail either in a provincial institution (sentences less than 2 years) or the federal penitentiary (sentences for 2 years or more).