Sentencing is an individualized judicial process governed by the Criminal Code and any offence-specific rules. Parliament amended sentencing law in 2026, so current statutory text matters when describing objectives, aggravating factors or available sanctions.
Primary legislation and official process sources checked October 5, 2026. Criminal law and court procedure can change; verify the current source before relying on a provision or deadline.
Purposes and proportionality
The Code identifies sentencing objectives and requires a sentence proportionate to the gravity of the offence and the offender's degree of responsibility.
- denunciation and deterrence
- rehabilitation
- proportionality
Aggravating and mitigating factors
The court considers legally relevant circumstances of the offence and offender, including statutory aggravating factors.
- criminal record
- planning or breach of trust
- mitigating circumstances
Sentencing evidence
The record may include an agreed or proven factual basis, presentence material, victim impact information and submissions from both sides.
- agreed facts
- presentence report
- victim impact statement
Types of sentence
Depending on the offence and statutory limits, outcomes can include discharge, fine, probation, conditional sentence, custody or combinations of sanctions.
- probation
- custody
- ancillary orders
Indigenous and Black offenders
Current sentencing law and case law can require attention to systemic and background factors where legally relevant, without creating an automatic outcome.
- Gladue principles
- systemic and background factors
- individualized assessment
Official and authoritative sources
- Justice Canada — Criminal Code
- Courts of Nova Scotia — Provincial Court
- Nova Scotia Legal Aid — Criminal Law Resources