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negligence

Negligence is the failure to use reasonable care with the result that damage or injury happens.

civil enforcement

Civil enforcement is the enforcement of court orders, such as court ordered fines or restitution orders, by enforcement officers.

If you do not pay your fines, an enforcement officer can:

  • identify property that can be taken and sold to pay the fines
  • carry out written court orders to take and sell the property

victim impact statement

Victim impact statements help the judge understand how the complainant or victim in your case has been affected by the crime. In a victim impact statement the complainant or victim can tell the court about the emotional, financial, physical, or other impacts the crime has had on them. If there is a victim impact statement, the judge must consider...

pre-sentence report

You, the Crown, or the judge can ask for a pre-sentence report. It is written by a probation officer. The report helps the judge understand your background, current situation, and future opportunities before the judge sentences you.

joint position

A joint position means that you and the Crown both agree on the terms of the sentence to recommend to the judge at a sentencing hearing. A judge will usually accept a joint position, unless the agreement is clearly unreasonable.

intermittent sentence

An intermittent sentence is a sentence where you serve part of your time in jail, for example, on weekends, and part of your time in the community. While in the community, you must follow the terms of a probation order. An intermittent sentence is only available if the total length of your sentence is 90 days or less.

parole

Parole is a conditional release from jail. Parole allows you to serve part of your sentence in the community under the supervision of a parole officer and with conditions. If you don't follow the conditions of your parole, the Parole Board of Canada can take away your parole and send you back to jail.

restitution

Restitution means you pay money for the financial loss or property damage you caused when you committed a crime.

custodial sentence

A custodial sentence is a sentence that involves a period of jail time.