Hearing the Victim at Sentencing
Author | Marie Manikis |
Pages | 153-168 |
153
CHAPTER EIGHT
Hearing the Victim at Sentencing
Marie Manikis*
e role of victims in the Canadian criminal justice system has changed
signicantly over the past two decades. Although some legal practi-
tioners and academics remain opposed, victims are now an integral
part of various stages of the process, including at trial, sentencing, and
parole. e increasing role of victim participation in the Canadian
criminal justice system is part of a larger movement across common
law jurisdictions that arose partially out of concerns about the treat-
ment of victims in the criminal justice process.
* The author is most grateful to the editors, David Cole and Julian Roberts, for their sub-
stantial and continuous contribution in the field of sentencing. A special thanks for their
constant support and feedback throughout the years and for providing mentorship and
inspiration to many generations of sentencing scholars.
Julian V Roberts, “Listening to the Crime Victim: Evaluating Victim Input at Sentencing
and Parole” () Crime and Justice ; Marie Manikis, “Imagining the Future of
Victims’ Rights in Canada: A Comparative Perspective” () Ohio State Journal of
Criminal Law .
Marie Manikis, “Contrasting the Emergence of the Victims’ Movements in the United
States and England and Wales” () Societies ; Edna Erez, “Victim Participation
in Sentencing: Rhetoric and Reality” () Journal of Criminal Justice .
154 |
A. THE CHANGING ROLE OF VICTIMS AT SENTENCING
Before the formal recognition of victims at sentencing, presiding
judges usually adopted the traditional view that the prosecutor repre-
sented the public interest, including the interests of victims, and thus
seldom accepted victim participation as witnesses at sentencing. e
victim impact statement (VIS) regime in Canada was rst introduced
in under section of the Criminal Code, following the report by
the Canadian Sentencing Commission in , which recommended
the admission of statements describing the emotional, physical, and
nancial harm of victims in sentencing. is regime went through
several legislative changes over the years. Most notably, in , a statu-
tory reform required the court to consider a victim impact statement
where one has been submitted. Nevertheless, consideration of these
statements was left to the discretion of prosecutors and judges who, at
times, failed to introduce or consider them.
While the prosecutor still represents the public interest, victim
impact statements are increasingly being considered an important tool
for hearing the voices of victims. Legislative amendments in , for
example, made victim participation more robust by imposing manda-
tory obligations upon the judiciary. Indeed, the Criminal Code, section
(), uses “shall inquire” as obligatory terminology for sentencing
judges to consider statements from victims “describing the physical
or emotional harm, property damage or economic loss suered by
the victim as a result of the commission of the oence.” Moreover,
as discussed in this chapter, courts in recent years have increasingly
recognized the victim impact statement as relevant evidence when
crafting sentences, and the failure to properly consider it has given
See R v Antler (), CCC (d) (BC SC); and R v Robinson (), CR (d)
(Ont HC).
Canadian Sentencing Commission, Sentencing Reform: A Canadian Approach (Ottawa:
Supply and Services Canada, ).
Bill C-, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (Sentencing) and other Acts in conse-
quence thereof, st Sess, th Parl, (assented to July , proclaimed in force
September ), SC , c .
Bill C-, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (victims of crime) and another Act in
consequence, st Sess, th Parl, (assented to June ), SC , c .
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