Criminal Code

Marginal note:Other sentencing principles

718.2 A court that imposes a sentence shall also take into consideration the following principles:

• (a) a sentence should be increased or reduced to account for any relevant aggravating or mitigating circumstances relating to the offence or the offender, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,

  • (i) evidence that the offence was motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, or on any other similar factor,

  • (ii) evidence that the offender, in committing the offence, abused the offender’s intimate partner or a member of the victim or the offender’s family,

  • (ii.1) evidence that the offender, in committing the offence, abused a person under the age of eighteen years,

  • (ii.2) evidence that the offender involved a person under the age of 18 years in the commission of the offence,

  • (iii) evidence that the offender, in committing the offence, abused a position of trust or authority in relation to the victim,

  • (iii.1) evidence that the offence had a significant impact on the victim, considering their age and other personal circumstances, including their health and financial situation,

  • (iii.2) evidence that the offence was committed against a person who, in the performance of their duties and functions, was providing health services, including personal care services,

  • (iv) evidence that the offence was committed for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a criminal organization,

  • (v) evidence that the offence was a terrorism offence,

  • (vi) evidence that the offence was committed while the offender was subject to a conditional sentence order made under section 742.1 or released on parole, statutory release or unescorted temporary absence under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, and

  • (vii) evidence that the commission of the offence had the effect of impeding another person from obtaining health services, including personal care services,

  shall be deemed to be aggravating circumstances;

• (b) a sentence should be similar to sentences imposed on similar offenders for similar offences committed in similar circumstances;

• (c) where consecutive sentences are imposed, the combined sentence should not be unduly long or harsh;

• (d) an offender should not be deprived of liberty, if less restrictive sanctions may be appropriate in the circumstances; and

• (e) all available sanctions, other than imprisonment, that are reasonable in the circumstances and consistent with the harm done to victims or to the community should be considered for all offenders, with particular attention to the circumstances of Aboriginal offenders.