Section 718 — Criminal Code: Purpose

The fundamental purpose of sentencing is to protect society and to contribute, along with crime prevention initiatives, to respect for the law and the maintenance of a just, peaceful and safe society by imposing just sanctions that have one or more of the following objectives: to denounce unlawful conduct and the harm done to victims or to the community that is caused by unlawful conduct; to deter the offender and other persons from committing offences; to separate offenders from society, where necessary; to assist in rehabilitating offenders; to provide reparations for harm done to victims or to the community;

and to promote a sense of responsibility in offenders, and acknowledgment of the harm done to victims or to the community.