CANADIAN CRIMINAL CODE - PROVISIONS RE STALKING

(Much of the following commentary was obtained from the excellent Internet site provided by Lloyd Duhaime a Canadian Lawyer based in Victoria, British Columbia. More information on Civil and Criminal Law in Canada, copies of the Canadian Criminal Code and copies of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms can be obtained from the Internet site www.canlii.org


Canadian criminal law deals with stalking under the criminal harassment provisons of section 264 of Canada's Criminal Code. The Code states that no person shall, without lawful authority and knowing that another person is harassed (or recklessly as to whether the other person is harassed):

repeatedly follow the other person, or anyone known to them, from place to place; repeatedly communicate with, either directly or indirectly, the other person or anyone known to them;
"beset" or watch a place where the other person is visiting, lives or works; or engage in threatening conduct directed at the other person or any member of their family.

The punishment for stalking can be as high as a five year jail term.

This section of the Criminal Code was passed in 1993 in order to make it easier for the police to charge stalkers. The Code did previously contain other sections that were helpful in blatant cases of stalking but they were ineffective against the more passive but just as frightening forms of stalking. For example, the Code prohibits trespassing on another's property at night, uttering threats, indecent or harassing phone calls, intimidation and mischief to another person's property. Under section 810 of the Criminal Code, it is also possible to obtain a peace bond against a person, breach of which is also a criminal offence.

Lloyd Duhaines commentary on the legislation says

"The new law now protects you even if the conduct of the stalker is not done with the intent to scare you. It is enough if it does scare you.

Actions that might be acceptable in a normal, loving relationship could become criminal harassment when one of the persons wants the relationship to end and the other does not. For example, in these circumstances, giving someone roses could, in some cases, be considered to be stalking as could repeated visits, telephone calls or waiting for the victim after work.

Everybody has a right to end a relationship. A former spouse or partner should stop communicating with you if you have told them that their attention is not welcome. If they persist, section 264 is there to help.

One of the key parts of section 264 of the Criminal Code is the requirement that when the conduct being complained of is "following" or "communicating", it has to be "repeated." There is no set rule on this. It can mean persistent or frequent behaviour but the "following" or "communicating" has to happen more then once for it to constitute criminal harassment.

But if the conduct is watching, prowling or "besetting" a place where you are visiting, live or work, or if there has been threatening conduct, one incident would suffice in getting a conviction under section 264.

In all cases, the conduct must be such that apprehension or "fear for their safety" is "reasonable." This means having a fear for which there is a reason; not a fear based on exaggeration of the situation or on imagined problems.

The law also excuses those that have "lawful authority" from being convicted under this section. One example of this has been given as the private investigator that has been hired to check into an insurance claim that you have filed.

Some cases which have gone to court under section 264 include:

the accused made telephone calls and left threatening messages on the victim's answering machine; the accused visited the victim's work place for no legitimate reason and followed the victim on buses;
the accused made rude or obscene gestures towards the victim.

If you are being harassed, we suggest you talk to the police, a lawyer or a victim services agency. Any of the above should be able to counsel you on your best course of action. You may be advised, for example, to stay away from your home for a short period of time. You should certainly keep a diary of the harassing behaviour in case your memory should later fail in court. If calls are coming in, get a tracing device connected through your telephone company. If you have a restraining order or peace bond, carry it with you at all times.
If you are being stalked, call the police. If you know that the suspect carries or owns weapons, this is important information for the police."

Section 264 has been challenged under sections 2(b) and 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (equivalent to the European Convention of Human Rights) and, in R. v. Sillip (1995) Canadian Criminal cases, page 394, was found to be compatible with the Charter.


Criminal Harassment section 264

. (1) No person shall, without lawful authority and knowing that another person is harassed or recklessly as to whether the other person is harassed, engage in conduct referred to in subsection (2) that causes that other person reasonably, in all the circumstances, to fear for their safety or the safety of anyone known to them.

Prohibited conduct

(2) The conduct mentioned in subsection (1) consists of

(a) repeatedly following from place to place the other person or anyone known to them;

(b) repeatedly communicating with, either directly or indirectly, the other person or anyone known to them;

(c) besetting or watching the dwelling-house, or place where the other person, or anyone known to them, resides, works, carries on business or happens to be; or

(d) engaging in threatening conduct directed at the other person or any member of their family.

Punishment

(3) Every person who contravenes this section is guilty of

(a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years; or

(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

Factors to be considered

(4) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this section, the court imposing the sentence on the person shall consider as an aggravating factor that, at the time the offence was committed, the person contravened

(a) the terms or conditions of an order made pursuant to section 161 or a recognizance entered into pursuant to section 810, 810.1 or 810.2; or

(b) the terms or conditions of any other order or recognizance made or entered into under the common law or a provision of this or any other Act of Parliament or of a province that is similar in effect to an order or recognizance referred to in paragraph (a).

Reasons

(5) Where the court is satisfied of the existence of an aggravating factor referred to in subsection (4), but decides not to give effect to it for sentencing purposes, the court shall give reasons for its decision.

Sureties to Keep the Peace

Section 810 Where injury or damage feared

. (1) An information may be laid before a justice by or on behalf of any person who fears on reasonable grounds that another person will cause personal injury to him or her or to his or her spouse or child or will damage his or her property.

Duty of justice

(2) A justice who receives an information under subsection (1) shall cause the parties to appear before him or before a summary conviction court having jurisdiction in the same territorial division.

Adjudication

(3) The justice or the summary conviction court before which the parties appear may, if satisfied by the evidence adduced that the person on whose behalf the information was laid has reasonable grounds for his or her fears,

(a) order that the defendant enter into a recognizance, with or without sureties, to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for any period that does not exceed twelve months, and comply with such other reasonable conditions prescribed in the recognizance, including the conditions set out in subsections (3.1) and (3.2), as the court considers desirable for securing the good conduct of the defendant; or

(b) commit the defendant to prison for a term not exceeding twelve months if he or she fails or refuses to enter into the recognizance.

Conditions

(3.1) Before making an order under subsection (3), the justice or the summary conviction court shall consider whether it is desirable, in the interests of the safety of the defendant or of any other person, to include as a condition of the recognizance that the defendant be prohibited from possessing any firearm, cross-bow, prohibited weapon, restricted weapon, prohibited device, ammunition, prohibited ammunition or explosive substance, or all such things, for any period specified in the recognizance and, where the justice or summary conviction court decides that it is so desirable, the justice or summary conviction court shall add such a condition to the recognizance.

Surrender, etc.

(3.11) Where the justice or summary conviction court adds a condition described in subsection (3.1) to a recognizance order, the justice or summary conviction court shall specify in the order the manner and method by which

(a) the things referred to in that subsection that are in the possession of the accused shall be surrendered, disposed of, detained, stored or dealt with; and

(b) the authorizations, licences and registration certificates held by the person shall be surrendered.

Reasons

(3.12) Where the justice or summary conviction court does not add a condition described in subsection (3.1) to a recognizance order, the justice or summary conviction court shall include in the record a statement of the reasons for not adding the condition.

Idem

(3.2) Before making an order under subsection (3), the justice or the summary conviction court shall consider whether it is desirable, in the interests of the safety of the informant, of the person on whose behalf the information was laid or of that person's spouse or child, as the case may be, to add either or both of the following conditions to the recognizance, namely, a condition

(a) prohibiting the defendant from being at, or within a distance specified in the recognizance from, a place specified in the recognizance where the person on whose behalf the information was laid or that person's spouse or child, as the case may be, is regularly found; and

(b) prohibiting the defendant from communicating, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the person on whose behalf the information was laid or that person's spouse or child, as the case may be.

Forms

(4) A recognizance and committal to prison in default of recognizance under subsection (3) may be in Forms 32 and 23, respectively.

Modification of recognizance

(4.1) The justice or the summary conviction court may, on application of the informant or the defendant, vary the conditions fixed in the recognizance.

Procedure

(5) The provisions of this Part apply, with such modifications as the circumstances require, to proceedings under this section.

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 810; 1991, c. 40, s. 33; 1994, c. 44, s. 81; 1995, c. 22, s. 8, c. 39, s. 157.

Section 810.01 When fear of criminal organization offence

(1) A person who fears on reasonable grounds that another person will commit a criminal organization offence may, with the consent of the Attorney General, lay an information before a provincial court judge.

Appearances

(2) A provincial court judge who receives an information under subsection (1) may cause the parties to appear before the provincial court judge.

Adjudication

(3) The provincial court judge before whom the parties appear may, if satisfied by the evidence adduced that the informant has reasonable grounds for the fear, order that the defendant enter into a recognizance to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for any period that does not exceed twelve months and to comply with any other reasonable conditions prescribed in the recognizance, including the conditions set out in subsection (5), that the provincial court judge considers desirable for preventing the commission of a criminal organization offence.

Refusal to enter into recognizance

(4) The provincial court judge may commit the defendant to prison for a term not exceeding twelve months if the defendant fails or refuses to enter into the recognizance.

Conditions — firearms

(5) Before making an order under subsection (3), the provincial court judge shall consider whether it is desirable, in the interests of the safety of the defendant or of any other person, to include as a condition of the recognizance that the defendant be prohibited from possessing any firearm, cross-bow, prohibited weapon, restricted weapon, prohibited device, ammunition, prohibited ammunition or explosive substance, or all of those things, for any period specified in the recognizance, and where the provincial court judge decides that it is so desirable, the provincial court judge shall add such a condition to the recognizance.

Surrender, etc.

(5.1) Where the provincial court judge adds a condition described in subsection (5) to a recognizance, the provincial court judge shall specify in the recognizance the manner and method by which

(a) the things referred to in that subsection that are in the possession of the defendant shall be surrendered, disposed of, detained, stored or dealt with; and

(b) the authorizations, licences and registration certificates held by the defendant shall be surrendered.

Reasons

(5.2) Where the provincial court judge does not add a condition described in subsection (5) to a recognizance, the provincial court judge shall include in the record a statement of the reasons for not adding the condition.

(6) The provincial court judge may, on application of the informant, the Attorney General or the defendant, vary the conditions fixed in the recognizance.

Other provisions to apply

(7) Subsections 810(4) and (5) apply, with any modifications that the circumstances require, to recognizances made under this section.

1997, c. 23, ss. 19, 26.

Section 810.1 Where fear of sexual offence


(1) Any person who fears on reasonable grounds that another person will commit an offence under section 151, 152, 155 or 159, subsection 160(2) or (3), section 170 or 171, subsection 173(2) or section 271, 272 or 273, in respect of one or more persons who are under the age of fourteen years, may lay an information before a provincial court judge, whether or not the person or persons in respect of whom it is feared that the offence will be committed are named.

Duty of provincial court judge

(2) A provincial court judge who receives an information under subsection (1) shall cause the parties to appear before the provincial court judge.

Adjudication

(3) The provincial court judge before whom the parties appear may, if satisfied by the evidence adduced that the informant has reasonable grounds for the fear, order the defendant to enter into a recognizance and comply with the conditions fixed by the provincial court judge, including a condition prohibiting the defendant from engaging in any activity that involves contact with persons under the age of fourteen years and prohibiting the defendant from attending a public park or public swimming area where persons under the age of fourteen years are present or can reasonably be expected to be present, or a daycare centre, schoolground, playground or community centre, for any period fixed by the provincial court judge that does not exceed twelve months.

Refusal to enter into recognizance

(3.1) The provincial court judge may commit the defendant to prison for a term not exceeding twelve months if the defendant fails or refuses to enter into the recognizance.

Judge may vary recognizance

(4) The provincial court judge may, on application of the informant or the defendant, vary the conditions fixed in the recognizance.

Other provisions to apply

(5) Subsections 810(4) and (5) apply, with such modifications as the circumstances require, to recognizances made under this section.

1993, c. 45, s. 11; 1997, c. 18, s. 113.

Section 810.2 Where fear of serious personal injury offence

(1) Any person who fears on reasonable grounds that another person will commit a serious personal injury offence, as that expression is defined in section 752, may, with the consent of the Attorney General, lay an information before a provincial court judge, whether or not the person or persons in respect of whom it is feared that the offence will be committed are named.

Duty of provincial court judge

(2) A provincial court judge who receives an information under subsection (1) may cause the parties to appear before the provincial court judge.

Adjudication

(3) The provincial court judge before whom the parties appear may, if satisfied by the evidence adduced that the informant has reasonable grounds for the fear, order that the defendant enter into a recognizance to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for any period that does not exceed twelve months and to comply with any other reasonable conditions prescribed in the recognizance, including the conditions set out in subsections (5) and (6), that the provincial court judge considers desirable for securing the good conduct of the defendant.

Refusal to enter into recognizance

(4) The provincial court judge may commit the defendant to prison for a term not exceeding twelve months if the defendant fails or refuses to enter into the recognizance.

Conditions — firearms

(5) Before making an order under subsection (3), the provincial court judge shall consider whether it is desirable, in the interests of the safety of the defendant or of any other person, to include as a condition of the recognizance that the defendant be prohibited from possessing any firearm, cross-bow, prohibited weapon, restricted weapon, prohibited device, ammunition, prohibited ammunition or explosive substance, or all such things, for any period specified in the recognizance, and where the provincial court judge decides that it is so desirable, the provincial court judge shall add such a condition to the recognizance.

Surrender, etc.

(5.1) Where the provincial court judge adds a condition described in subsection (5) to a recognizance order, the provincial court judge shall specify in the order the manner and method by which

(a) the things referred to in that subsection that are in the possession of the defendant shall be surrendered, disposed of, detained, stored or dealt with; and

(b) the authorizations, licences and registration certificates held by the defendant shall be surrendered.

Reasons

(5.2) Where the provincial court judge does not add a condition described in subsection (5) to a recognizance order, the provincial court judge shall include in the record a statement of the reasons for not adding the condition.

Conditions — reporting and monitoring

(6) Before making an order under subsection (3), the provincial court judge shall consider whether it is desirable to include as a condition of the recognizance that the defendant report to the correctional authority of a province or to an appropriate police authority, and where the provincial court judge decides that it is desirable for the defendant to so report, the provincial court judge may add the appropriate condition to the recognizance.

Variance of conditions

(7) The provincial court judge may, on application of the informant, of the Attorney General or of the defendant, vary the conditions fixed in the recognizance.

Other provisions to apply

(8) Subsections 810(4) and (5) apply, with such modifications as the circumstances require, to recognizances made under this section.

1997, c. 17, s. 9.

Section 811 Breach of recognizance

. A person bound by a recognizance under section 810, 810.01, 810.1 or 810.2 who commits a breach of the recognizance is guilty of

(a) an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years; or

(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.