« Abandon d’un enfant (infraction) » : différence entre les versions

{{en|Abandoning_Child_(Offence)}}

{{Currency2|August|2021}}

|Act={{OBCCC}}   

|SummaryMax= {{OBTime|18 months}}  

|IndictableMax={{OBTime|5 years}} }}

The offence of '''abandoning a child''' is a hybrid offence for abandoning or exposing a child of no more than nine years old such that there is a likelihood of permanent injury or endangerment of life. It is found in Part VIII of the Criminal Code relating to "Offences Against the Person and Reputation". This offence includes situations where parents will leave a child somewhere temporarily such as in a car or home unattended or where a mother cannot or does not want to continue care of a child and leaves the child to be found by someone else.

; Libérer{{ReleaseHeader}}

|"abandons" (s. 214)

|"exposes" (s. 214)

===Draft Form of Charges===

{{seealso|Draft Form of Charges}}

| abandoning a child

|"did [abandon or expose] [alleged victim's name], a child under the age of 10 years, so that the [life or health] of [alleged victim's name] was [endangered, likely to be endangered, permanently injured, or likely to be permanently injured]{{ToWit-Conduct}} {{contrary|218}}."[http://canlii.ca/t/fxgf4]

{{Proving|Abandoning a Child|218}}<br>

# {{box}} the culprit abandons or exposes a child;

# {{box}} the culprit intended to abandon or expose the child;

# {{box}} the child is under the age of 10;  

# {{box}} the culprit was aware of the child's age;  

# {{box}} the act causes the child's life likely to be endangered or health likely to be permanently injured; and

# {{box}} the endangerment to the child was reasonably foreseeable to the culprit.

 

A 14-month-old child left in a vehicle for 3 hours during negative 14-degree temperatures would make out the offence.<ref>

; Mens Rea

The offence requires subjective fault.<ref>

{{CanLIIRP|ADH|fxgf4|2013 SCC 28 (CanLII)|[2013] 2 SCR 269}}{{perSCC|Cromwell J}}{{atL|fxgf4|75}}</ref>

The offence criminalizes risk and so may require knowledge of that risk.<ref>

{{ibid1|ADH}}{{atL|fxgf4|53}}</ref>

; Age of Victim

Section 30 of the Interpretation Act determines age for this section.<ref>

See [http://canlii.ca/t/7vhg#sec30 s. 30 of the IA]: "A person is deemed not to have attained a specified number of years of age until the commencement of the anniversary, of the same number, of the day of that person’s birth."

The term "child" is not defined within the Code.<ref> See s. 214 which had the definition until repealed in 2002</ref>  

Section 658 provides methods of proof.<ref>

See [[Jurisdiction of the Courts#Young Persons]]

; Spousal Evidence

Section 4(3) of the Evidence Act removes [[Competence and Compellability|spousal incompetence]].

; Endangerment

The Crown must prove more than the "potential" for endangerment. It must be actual endangerment.<ref>

; Definitions

214 In this Part {{AnnSec|Part VIII}},<br>

 

R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. C-46}}, s. 214;  

R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.)}}, s. 33, {{LegHistory00sA|1985|c. 32 (4th Supp.)}}, s. 56;  

{{LegHistory00s|2002, c. 13}}, s. 9.

To "abandon" is to "leave [the child] to his fate."<ref>

Simply leaving a child with someone contracted to take care of a child is not abandonment. There must be a "wilful omission to take charge of the child, or some mode of dealing with it calculated to leave it without proper care."<ref>

{{CanLIIR-N|Davis| (1909), 18 O.L.R. 387}} cited by Reedy and {{CanLIIRP|Bokane-Haraszt|1rk4q|2007 ONCJ 228 (CanLII)|OJ No 2000}}{{perONCJ|Bourque J}}

An act of giving up all claim to a child will also not be abandonment.<ref>

{{seealso|Role of the Victim and Third Parties|Testimonial Aids for Young, Disabled or Vulnerable Witnesses}}

; Testimonial Aids

; On Finding of Guilt

{{VictimHeader}} <!-- Sections / Notice of Agree / Notice of Restitution / Notice of VIS -->

==Sentencing Principles and Ranges==

===Sentencing Profile===

; Maximum Penalties

; Minimum Penalties

; Available Dispositions

|art. 218 {{DescrSec|218}} || any || {{SProfileAll}}

; Consecutive Sentences

===Principles===

===Ranges===

{{seealsoRanges|Abandoning Child}}

Prior cases have given both custodial and non-custodial sentences. The main factors concern the level of willful neglect and the overall risk to the child. Repetitive or highly dangerous behaviour will typically attract custodial sentences. For the more negligent offences, fines and probation have been given.

Where a child's life is put in danger will be an aggravating factor.<ref>

{{CanLIIR-N|Nguyen|, [2001] OJ No 647 (Ont. C.J.)}} (“[w]hen actual endangerment to life or serious injury is realized in the commission of the offence, the Courts must consider that this fact makes the offence more serious.")

In these circumstances jail sentences will generally be given.<ref>

{{ibid1|Nguyen}} (“[o]nly a full deprivation of liberty can bring home the message to this woman personally of the nature of her conduct, and adequately denounce this conduct.”)</ref>

==Ancillary Sentencing Orders==

{{seealso|Ancillary Orders}}

; Offence-specific Orders

{{AOrder1| [[Ordres ADN]]|art. 218 {{DescrSec|218}} |

; Ordonnances générales de détermination de peine{{GeneralSentencingOrders}}

 

; Ordonnances générales de confiscation{{GeneralForfeitureOrders}}

==Record Suspensions and Pardons==  

==History==

{{seealso|List of Criminal Code Amendments|Table of Concordance (Criminal Code)}}

* [[Failing to Provide the Necessities of Life (Offence)]]

* [[Pre-Trial and Trial Motions Checklist]]