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Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46)

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Act current to 2024-03-06 and last amended on 2024-01-14. Previous Versions

Marginal note:Purpose

 The fundamental purpose of sentencing is to protect society and to contribute, along with crime prevention initiatives, to respect for the law and the maintenance of a just, peaceful and safe society by imposing just sanctions that have one or more of the following objectives:

  • (a) to denounce unlawful conduct and the harm done to victims or to the community that is caused by unlawful conduct;

  • (b) to deter the offender and other persons from committing offences;

  • (c) to separate offenders from society, where necessary;

  • (d) to assist in rehabilitating offenders;

  • (e) to provide reparations for harm done to victims or to the community; and

  • (f) to promote a sense of responsibility in offenders, and acknowledgment of the harm done to victims or to the community.

  • R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 718
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 155
  • 1995, c. 22, s. 6
  • 2015, c. 13, s. 23

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