Incarceration (Civil Contempt)

Carr-Carey v. Carey, 2014 ONSC 6764 (CanLII)

[9] In R. v. Proulx, 2000 SCC 5 (CanLII), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 61, Lamer C.J.C., for a unanimous court, at para. 29, made it clear that a conditional sentence is a sentence of imprisonment. The sentence of imprisonment is served in the community, subject to conditions. It is intended to be punitive, but also addresses rehabilitative objectives.

[10] At para. 35, Lamer C.J.C. noted that Parliament intended a conditional sentence to be more punitive than a suspended sentence and probation. At para. 39, he stated that where an offender breaches a condition without reasonable excuse, there is a presumption that the offender will serve the remainder of his or her sentence in jail. This is unlike breach of a probation order, which requires a new charge. He stated that the constant threat of incarceration will help to ensure that the offender complies with the conditions.