Ordonnances de sursis

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Introduction

Une condamnation avec sursis est une peine d'emprisonnement qui peut être purgée dans la communauté à des conditions strictes, généralement sous forme d'assignation à résidence, pour une durée maximale de deux ans moins un jour.

La disposition d'habilitation stipule que:

Octroi du sursis

742.1 Le tribunal peut ordonner à toute personne qui a été déclarée coupable d’une infraction de purger sa peine dans la collectivité afin que sa conduite puisse être surveillée — sous réserve des conditions qui lui sont imposées en application de l’article 742.3 [conditions d'ordonnance de sursis] —, si elle a été condamnée à un emprisonnement de moins de deux ans et si les conditions suivantes sont réunies :

a) le tribunal est convaincu que la mesure ne met pas en danger la sécurité de la collectivité et est conforme à l’objectif essentiel et aux principes énoncés aux articles 718 à 718.2 ;

b) aucune peine minimale d’emprisonnement n’est prévue pour l’infraction;

c) il ne s’agit pas d’une infraction prévue à l’une ou l’autre des dispositions suivantes :

(i) l’article 239 (tentative de meurtre), pour laquelle une peine au titre de l’alinéa 239(1)b) est infligée,

(ii) l’article 269.1 (torture),

(iii) l’article 318 (encouragement au génocide);

d) il ne s’agit pas d’une infraction de terrorisme ni d’une infraction d’organisation criminelle poursuivies par mise en accusation et passibles d’une peine maximale d’emprisonnement de dix ans ou plus.

e) [Abrogé, 2022, ch. 15, art. 14]

f) [Abrogé, 2022, ch. 15, art. 14]

1992, ch. 11, art. 16; 1995, ch. 19, art. 38, ch. 22, art. 6; 1997, ch. 18, art. 107.1; 2007, ch. 12, art. 1; 2012, ch. 1, art. 34; 2022, ch. 15, art. 14.

– CCC (CanLII), (Jus.)

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CSO and Incarceration

A Conditional Sentence Order (CSO) is a form of incarceration.

A conditional sentence, being a period of incarceration, can satisfy the principles of denunciation and deterrence. However, there is a comparative leniency in a conditional sentence when compared “to a jail term of equivalent duration.” The denunciatory aspects and deterrent effect "will increase with the degree of restriction on liberty" as set out in the terms of the order.

A CSO is not the same as probation. The former being punitive and rehabilitative while latter being only for rehabilitation.

Purpose

The purpose of the conditional sentence is to reduce the reliance on incarceration as a sanction and increase restorative justice objectives.

CSOs are usually better at achieving "the restorative objectives of rehabilitation, reparations to the victim and the community, and promotion of a sense of responsibility in the offender and acknowledgment of the harm done to the victim and the community."

Constitutionality

The restrictions on conditional sentences for offences with a maximum penalty of 14 years does not violate s. 12 of the Charter for being cruel and unusual punishment. However, in Ontario the unavailability of conditional sentences to aboriginal offenders for violates s. 7 of the Charter and is struck.

Appellate Review

The decision to order a conditional sentence is entitled to "considerable deference."

History

The conditional sentence option was introduced in 1996 as a "meaningful alternative for less serious and non-dangerous offenders."

Eligibility

The requirements under s. 742.1 for a conditional sentence are summarized as follows:

1. the offence has no mandatory minimums
2. an offence with a maximum penalty of 10 years is not
   1. a terrorism offence, or
   2. a criminal organization offence,
3. the appropriate sentence is less than two years
4. a sentence in the community would not endanger the safety of the community
   1. in consideration of the risk of the offender reoffending; and,
   2. in consideration of the gravity of the damage that could follow a re-offence.
5. the appropriate sentence consistent with the fundamental purpose and principles of sentencing

A conditional sentence can be available to a person who is on parole.

Presumptions

There is no presumption for or against CSOs. However, it is considered "likely more appropriate" where a "combination of both punitive and restorative objectives" are to be achieved.

Constitutionality

The restrictions on conditional sentences for certain classes of offences does not violate s. 7 or 12 of the Charter.

Mandatory Minimums

Mandatory minimum offences are not eligible for a conditional sentence. The offences with minimums are identifiable by the presence of the minimum within the definition of the offence.

Less Than Two Years

Before a judge can impose a conditional sentence the judge must be satisfied that both prison and probation are not appropriate.

Where a penitentiary sentence "cannot be excluded", then a CSO cannot be imposed.

Safety of Community

The sentencing judge should undertake a "risk assessment" to determine if the offender is a risk to the safety to the community.

Assessing risk to the community is divided into two dimensions: 1) the risk of re-offence and 2) the gravity of the danger in the event of a re-offence.

Risk of re-offence should be considered in light of potential "conditions attached to the sentence". Where there is a risk to the community, the risk may be minimized by imposing "appropriate conditions in the sentence." Thus, a risk is acceptable as long as it is containable within the sentence.

Previous non-compliance with court orders is a "weighty factor" against the availability of a conditional sentence. They can be evidence that the offender is unlikely to comply and the sentence will not likely have a deterrent or rehabilitative effect.

Compliance with the Principles and Purposes of Sentencing

Child Sexual Offences

CSOs for child sexual offences will be "very rarely" appropriate absent "limited exceptional circumstances."

Procedure

Imposing Conditions

• Terms and Conditions of a Conditional Sentence Order

Conditional Sentence Breaches

• Conditional Sentence Breaches

Effect of Custody on Other Matters

If person imprisoned for new offence

742.7 (1) If an offender who is subject to a conditional sentence order is imprisoned as a result of a sentence imposed for another offence, whenever committed, the running of the conditional sentence order is suspended during the period of imprisonment for that other offence.

Breach of condition

(2) If an order is made under paragraph 742.6(9)(c) [procédure en cas de violation d'une condition – pouvoirs du tribunal – suspendre l'ordonnance] or (d) [procédure en cas de violation d'une condition – pouvoirs du tribunal – mettre fin à l'ordonnance] to commit an offender to custody, the custodial period ordered shall, unless the court considers that it would not be in the interests of justice, be served consecutively to any other period of imprisonment that the offender is serving when that order is made.

Multiple sentences

(3) If an offender is serving both a custodial period referred to in subsection (2) [emprisonné pour une nouvelle infraction pendant une peine avec sursis – manquement aux conditions] and any other period of imprisonment, the periods shall, for the purpose of section 743.1 [pénitencier pour peines de 2 ans ou plus] and section 139 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, be deemed to constitute one sentence of imprisonment.

Conditional sentence order resumes

(4) The running of any period of the conditional sentence order that is to be served in the community resumes upon the release of the offender from prison on parole, on statutory release, on earned remission, or at the expiration of the sentence.
1995, c. 22, s. 6; 1999, c. 5, s. 42; 2004, c. 12, s. 16(E).
[annotation(s) ajoutée(s)]

– CCC (CanLII), (Jus.)

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Sentence Variations

The Sentence Supervisor can recommend changes in the optional conditions of the Order where there is a change in circumstances. Notice of the proposed change must be provided to the court and counsel. It is generally understood that the changes should not be of a substantial nature that may change the purpose of the initial order. The application should not be initiated by the offender.

Supervisor may propose changes to optional conditions

742.4 (1) Where an offender’s supervisor is of the opinion that a change in circumstances makes a change to the optional conditions desirable, the supervisor shall give written notification of the proposed change, and the reasons for it, to the offender, to the prosecutor and to the court.

Hearing

(2) Within seven days after receiving a notification referred to in subsection (1) [pouvoirs et modalités de modification des conditions facultatives par le superviseur],

(a) the offender or the prosecutor may request the court to hold a hearing to consider the proposed change, or

(b) the court may, of its own initiative, order that a hearing be held to consider the proposed change,

and a hearing so requested or ordered shall be held within thirty days after the receipt by the court of the notification referred to in subsection (1) [pouvoirs et modalités de modification des conditions facultatives par le superviseur].

Decision at hearing

(3) At a hearing held pursuant to subsection (2) [modification des conditions facultatives par le superviseur – audience], the court

(a) shall approve or refuse to approve the proposed change; and

(b) may make any other change to the optional conditions that the court deems appropriate.

Where no hearing requested or ordered

(4) Where no request or order for a hearing is made within the time period stipulated in subsection (2), the proposed change takes effect fourteen days after the receipt by the court of the notification referred to in subsection (1) [pouvoirs et modalités de modification des conditions facultatives par le superviseur], and the supervisor shall so notify the offender and file proof of that notification with the court.

Changes proposed by offender or prosecutor

(5) Subsections (1) [pouvoirs et modalités de modification des conditions facultatives par le superviseur] and (3) [le superviseur modifie les conditions facultatives – décision à l'audience] apply, with such modifications as the circumstances require, in respect of a change proposed by the offender or the prosecutor to the optional conditions, and in all such cases a hearing must be held, and must be held within thirty days after the receipt by the court of the notification referred to in subsection (1) [pouvoirs et modalités de modification des conditions facultatives par le superviseur].

Judge may act in chambers

(6) All the functions of the court under this section may be exercised in chambers.
1995, c. 22, s. 6; 1999, c. 5, s. 39.
[annotation(s) ajoutée(s)]

– CCC (CanLII), (Jus.)

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A change of address cannot be done merely be calling and leaving a voicemail message on the supervisor's machine.

There is no mechanism within the Code to permit a CSO to be transferred to a jurisdiction outside of Canada.

Transfer CSOs to different Provinces

Transfer of order

742.5 (1) Where an offender who is bound by a conditional sentence order becomes a resident of a territorial division, other than the territorial division where the order was made, on the application of a supervisor, the court that made the order may, subject to subsection (1.1) [transfert de l'ordonnance de sursis – consentement de la Couronne requis], transfer the order to a court in that other territorial division that would, having regard to the mode of trial of the offender, have had jurisdiction to make the order in that other territorial division if the offender had been tried and convicted there of the offence in respect of which the order was made, and the order may thereafter be dealt with and enforced by the court to which it is so transferred in all respects as if that court had made the order.

Attorney General’s consent

(1.1) The transfer may be granted only with

(a) the consent of the Attorney General of the province in which the conditional sentence order was made, if the two territorial divisions are not in the same province; or

(b) the consent of the Attorney General of Canada, if the proceedings that led to the issuance of the conditional sentence order were instituted by or on behalf of the Attorney General of Canada.

Where court unable to act

(2) Where a court that has made a conditional sentence order or to which a conditional sentence order has been transferred pursuant to subsection (1) [transfert de l'ordonnance de sursis] is for any reason unable to act, the powers of that court in relation to the conditional sentence order may be exercised by any other court that has equivalent jurisdiction in the same province.
1995, c. 22, s. 6; 1999, c. 5, s. 40.
[annotation(s) ajoutée(s)]

– CCC (CanLII), (Jus.)

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History

• History of Conditional Sentences