criminal records Archives - LawNow Magazine

Purposes of Criminal Sentencing

The principles of criminal sentencing are set out in Section 718 of the Criminal Code. In Canada, the fundamental purpose of sentencing is to facilitate respect for the law and to promote a just, peaceful and safe society. Sentencing pursues these six objectives:

Denunciation – to denounce the offender’s criminal actions;

Deterrence – a sentence dissuades the convict and others from repeating the offence;

Separation – this punishes the offender through deprivation of contact with friends, family and others, while protecting society from the offender at the same time;

Rehabilitation – offenders are offered programs and therapy that may help them to change their lives and turn away from criminal behaviours, an objective which is thought to be most effective with young offenders;

Reparation – as restorative justice: offenders pay fines, make restitution or work in community service programs; and

Responsibility – offenders must sincerely consider the harm done by their behaviour.

Possible Outcomes to Guilt

A person convicted of a crime in Canada will receive one of the following dispositions:

discharge – either absolute or conditional;
alternative measures;
fine;
probation;
suspended sentence;
conditional sentence; or

In this article we explain the criminal sentencing law of absolute and conditional discharges.

Discharges

After an accused person has been found guilty by a plea or conviction after trial, a discharge may be granted by the state. This nullifies any criminal record that the guilty person otherwise would have had. Section 730 (1) of the Criminal Code states:

Where an accused, other than an organization, pleads guilty to or is found guilty of an offence, other than an offence for which a minimum punishment is prescribed by law or an offence punishable by imprisonment for fourteen years or for life, the court before which the accused appears may, if it considers it to be in the best interests of the accused and not contrary to the public interest, instead of convicting the accused, by order direct that the accused be discharged absolutely or on the conditions prescribed in a probation order made under subsection 731(2).

An individual may be discharged if it is in the best interest of the individual and if it is not against the public interest. The effect of a discharge is that the accused does not receive a criminal conviction or a criminal record. This makes a discharge very advantageous for first-time offenders and those guilty of minor offences.

The Ontario Court of Appeal sought to interpret and apply what “best interest of the accused” means in Regina v. Sanchez-Pino, 1973 CanLII 794 (ON CA):

… that deterrence of the offender himself is not a relevant consideration, in the circumstances, except to the extent required by conditions in a probation order. Nor is his rehabilitation through correctional or treatment centres, except to the same extent. Normally he will be a good person of good character, or at least of such character that the entry of a conviction against him may have significant repercussions

A discharge is granted to an individual, otherwise an upstanding member of society, who would be significantly harmed by a criminal record. To be considered in the best interests of the accused, the conviction and criminal record must have significant repercussions on the individual. This need not necessarily be employment-related, although overall financial and non-financial costs are a factor. If the conviction would “have a prejudicial impact on the accused disproportionate to the offence committed,” [1] a discharge is an appropriate disposition. Professional hockey player Todd Bertuzzi pled guilty to an assault causing bodily harm on Steve Moore during a regular season NHL hockey game and was granted a conditional discharge. (R. v. Bertuzzi, 2004 BCPC 472 (CanLII))

In R. v. MacFarlane, 1976 ALTASCAD 6 (CanLII), the court said discharges should be used sparingly. If the conviction would “have a prejudicial impact on the accused disproportionate to the offence committed,” [1] a discharge is an appropriate disposition. A criminal sentence is one of the strongest deterrents to criminal activity, particularly for those who have no records. The court set out the relevant factors for discharges:

more serious offences are less likely to receive discharges;
prevalence of the particular offence in the community;
potential for the accused to gain at the expense of others;
if the offence relates to property, the value of the property;
whether the offence was planned or committed impulsively; and
whether the offence should be on the public record as part of a conviction and criminal record.

It is obvious that a discharge will be preferred by all criminals. Virtually everyone would benefit from a discharge over a conviction. Only when the sanctions would be disproportionately out of line for the accused is a discharge an option. If so, the second test about public interest is analyzed. Again, according to the Sanchez-Pino case:

One element thereby brought in will be the necessity or otherwise of a sentence which will be a deterrent to others who may be minded to commit a like offence – a standard part of the criteria for sentencing.

… it is common sense that the more serious the offence, the less likely it will appear that an absolute discharge, or even a conditional one, is ‘not contrary to the public interest.’ In some cases, the trivial nature of the offence will be an important consideration; in others, unusual circumstances peculiar to the offender in question may lead to an order that would not be made in the case of another offender.

As for this ‘public interest’ consideration, would it be “… in the public interest to see that future or potential employers or social organizations know of the criminal activity It is obvious that a discharge will be preferred by all criminals. Virtually everyone would benefit from a discharge over a conviction. Only when the sanctions would be disproportionately out of line for the accused is a discharge an option. and have a chance to evaluate it,” [1] or would it be against the public interest of general deterrence that a discharge might lead others to “follow his example?” [2]

The severity of the criminal behaviour is a major factor in the discretion to order a discharge. In R. v Fallofield [1973] BCCA the court determined that the accused was of good character and had no previous convictions. The court found that the weight of the public interest (deterrence and separation) did not prevent the accused from receiving a discharge.

In R. v. Knowlton, 2005 ABPC 29 (CanLII), the court confirmed that conditional discharges can be granted even for cases involving violence. Regarding the accused, the court said:

this individual has moved considerably to become a better person, reunited with his family, stopped consuming alcohol and drugs and is moving towards furthering his education in hopes of becoming a teacher. It is in the public interest overall that he achieve those goals and a discharge may, to some extent, assist in that regard. He does not have a recent record and entered a guilty plea and clearly is remorseful for his actions. In all the circumstances, in my view, the need for deterrence in the context of this offence is adequately addressed through a conditional discharge. It is in his interests and his family interests that he continue on the road to rehabilitation.

Absolute Discharges

The discharge can be either “absolute”, with no probationary conditions at all, or “conditional” which attaches probationary conditions. Absolute discharges are ordered only in the strongest cases.

Conditional Discharges

In this case, the guilty person is discharged from an offence as long as certain specific conditions, placed in probation orders, are met. All conditional discharges have terms of probation attached to them. Probation comes from the word “prove”, as in the accused must prove himself by following stipulated conditions over a fixed period of time. Failure to comply with all the conditions of a probation order may cancel the conditional discharge, lead to a conviction being registered, stricter sentencing and attract a new charge of breaching probation (ie. failing to comply with a court order). Probation orders are used elsewhere in criminal sentencing, apart from conditional discharges. For example, conditions in probation orders may accompany a “suspended sentence” after conviction, or they may be added as part of the overall sentence to a fine or period of imprisonment.

The common conditions contained in a probation order are:

keep the peace and be of good behaviour;
appear before the court when required by the court;
notify the court or a probation officer in advance of any change of name or address, and promptly notify the court or the probation officer of any change of employment or occupation;
remain within the jurisdiction of the court;
report to a probation officer;
perform a number of hours of community service;
remain in employment (or looking for employment) or in school; and
(if applicable) not to have contact with named individuals, not to go to certain locations and/or not to consume alcohol.

Failure to comply with all the conditions of a probation order may cancel the conditional discharge, lead to a conviction being registered and stricter sentencing and attract a new charge of breaching probation (ie. failing to comply with a court order).

No Criminal Record

Guilty persons granted discharges can claim they have not been convicted of an offence and have no criminal recordAbsolute discharges pardon the individual where the crime is not too severe, where conviction and further sentence would disproportionately impact the individual in relation to the wrongdoing, and where the discharge is in the best interests of the individual and not against public policy.. The federal Criminal Records Act states that “no record of a discharge under . . . the Criminal Code . . . shall be disclosed to any person, nor shall the existence of the record or the fact of the discharge be disclosed to any person, without the prior approval of the Minister” after one year has elapsed since the offender was discharged absolutely; or after three years since the offender was conditionally discharged.

An exception occurs where an accused enjoyed a previous discharge, especially on a similar offence. In that case, the Crown may raise the previous discharge with the court. The previous discharge cannot be used as evidence to convict the individual for the new offence, but only to show thecCourt that a discharge has been given in the past and the public interest might not be served with another one.

Conclusion

Just as what is viewed as ‘criminal’ changes with society over time, criminal sentencing also changes with evolving social norms. One of these social justice principles is that no guilty person should be punished disproportionately to his fault. In rare cases, the sentencing objectives of denunciation, deterrence, separation, rehabilitation, reparation and responsibility can actually be met by discharging the guilty person from further criminal responsibility. The process and effect of being caught and brought to justice for the crime may be all that is necessary to achieve these objectives. Anything more may not only serve no further sentencing purpose, but it may harm the accused’s and public’s interests. This judicial discretion and flexibility in the system, is codified in Canadian criminal law and procedure.

Discharges are a form of discretionary sentences that address the guilty person’s character and personal circumstances, and balance those with his behaviour and consequences on the community. Absolute discharges pardon the individual where the crime is not too severe, where conviction and further sentence would disproportionately impact the individual in relation to the wrongdoing, and where the discharge is in the best interests of the individual and not against public policy. If the offence is minor in nature or consequence but the individual would lose much with criminal conviction and sentence, it would be disproportionate.

Conditional discharges do not immediately pardon an individual of guilty criminal behaviour. It places the burden on the individual to prove oneself over time and in specific terms. If the probation orders are fully performed, the individual is absolved of the offence.

Notes:

1. Ruby, C., Chan, G., Hassan, N., Sentencing, 8^th ed., 2012, LexisNexis Canada, p. 417-418

2. Wigglesworth, [1983] S.J. No. 554, 7 C.C.C. (3d) 170, at p. 176 (Sask. Q.B.)

There’s a reason why Canadian passports are in high demand with international criminals and forgers. Our record of good international relations, history of peacekeeping and foreign aid, and the generally good perception of Canadians gives our passport holders easy entry to more countries than just about any other passport in the world. Fortunately, the federal government continues to improve passport security precautions to discourage misuse. Before they leave, travellers need to talk to the embassies, consulates and offices that represent the countries they want to visit to learn more about entry restrictions. Newer passports have built-in integrated circuits and a warning to treat your passport as an ‘electronic device’. But even if you’re lucky enough to have a legitimate Canadian passport, it does not guarantee your right to travel out of the country, especially if you have a criminal record – and especially to Canadians’ favourite destination, the United States.

Travelling Overseas with a Criminal Record

While any country you visit can stop you from entering for any reason it chooses, the vast majority understand the importance of maintaining a healthy tourist industry, strong business connections and good international relations and they usually give permission to enter to most people who request it. But regardless of your reason for travelling, a criminal record can put a quick, unexpected and inconvenient halt to your plans. Every country has its own guidelines and rules about who can enter. For many, a criminal record isn’t an absolute barrier to entry, but they will exercise discretion based on certain criteria, including the type of offence and how long ago it was committed. Before they leave, travellers need to talk to the embassies, consulates and offices that represent the countries they want to visit to learn more about entry restrictions. To give you an idea of what to expect, here’s a brief list of some of the guidelines the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) uses to determine admissibility for visitors with a criminal record:

Conviction Judged in Terms of Canadian Criminal Code – Officials will equate the offence(s), for which a criminal record was given, with the Canadian Criminal Code. Certain offences may be more or less serious in Canada.
Impaired Driving – We usually think that the U.S. is tougher than Canada on entry requirements, but you will probably get into the U.S. with a criminal record for impaired driving. But visitors to Canada are not allowed to enter if their impaired driving conviction is for having blood-alcohol content over the Canadian limit of .08%.
Some Other Convictions that Can Prevent Entry to Canada – Dangerous driving; common assault; street racing; resisting arrest; possession, supply and/or trafficking of narcotics; shoplifting and fraud.

Traveling to the U.S. with a Criminal Record

Canada’s biggest trading partner and favourite travel destination continues to tighten border security and admissibility requirements. It used to be that Canadians and Americans could cross the border with no more than valid pieces of identification like driver’s licences and social insurance cards. Another way to guarantee that you can cross the U.S. border with a criminal record is to apply for and get a U.S. Entry Waiver, which gives you advanced permission to enter the U.S. Today, while a passport is still not absolutely required for travel by land or sea, it is highly recommended, and a requirement when travelling by air. Whether or not you can enter the U.S. with a criminal record depends on many criteria. As noted above, if your record is for an impaired driving conviction or other offences considered less serious, like disorderly conduct, especially if the conviction is an old one, there’s a good chance you’ll be allowed to enter. On the other end of the spectrum, if your offence was one of ‘moral turpitude’, and was relatively recent, you will very likely not be allowed entry. Examples of a crime of moral turpitude include: murder; manslaughter; sexual assault; theft; forgery; battery and fraud. Every case is different. If you have a criminal record, whether your offence was relatively simple or serious, and regardless of when it was committed, The close relationship between the two countries, especially in the fight against terrorism, has resulted in the CBP having access the RCMP’s National Repository of Criminal Records, which lists every criminal record holder in Canada. it’s best to contact U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to determine if you would be allowed to enter. Another way to guarantee that you can cross the U.S. border with a criminal record is to apply for and get a U.S. Entry Waiver, which gives you advanced permission to enter the U.S. The waiver application process can take from six to 12 months and requires that you complete a number of forms, submit a U.S. Fingerprint Chart and supply a copy of an official police record of your offence(s), which you can get from the RCMP or a local police service. Due to the complexity of the waiver application process and requirements, many record holders use a waiver application service provider like Pardon Applications of Canada.

If you don’t tell them, how does the U.S. CBP know you have a record?

The close relationship between the two countries, especially in the fight against terrorism, has resulted in the CBP having access the RCMP’s National Repository of Criminal Records, which lists every criminal record holder in Canada. A CBP officer only has to enter your name or scan your passport to find out whether you have a record.

How Being Named in a Police Report Can Affect Your Travel Plans

Access to the RCMP’s Criminal Record database also gives CBP access to police reports from across the country. The unfortunate result for many travellers is that they are unexpectedly detained at border crossings and/or barred from entering the U.S., even when they have no criminal record or have never been charged with an offence. As reported by the CBC, in June, 2012, a woman was told by CBP that the only way she would be allowed into the U.S. to catch a flight, which she later missed, was to get an independent doctor to vouch for her. Why? A 911 call to police that preceded a stay in hospital for clinical depression was recorded in a police report which was found by CBP during a background check. Police did not visit the woman’s home after the call, no charges were laid, no conviction, no criminal record. Unless you ask your local police service or the RCMP, it is impossible to know if your name is included in a police report. If you have a criminal record, or if you have even the slightest idea that your name may appear in a police report, for example, if you gave a statement following a traffic accident that involved negligence – it is best to contact police and/or the CBP before travel to the U.S. to confirm that you’ll be able to enjoy free passage.

Article Sources: Embassy of the United States, Government of Canada

Absolute and Conditional Discharges in Canadian Criminal Law