Criminal Law – Sentencing

In this guide, you will find information, resources and links about sentencing law in criminal cases. This includes some of the following subjects:

  • Principles
  • Quantums (the range and types of sentences for offences)
  • Sentencing in youth criminal justice & young offenders
  • Sentencing for controlled drugs and substances
  • Sentencing weapons offences

For further information on other areas of criminal law, check out our research guides on:

Texts

Principles

Last revised Sept. 5, 2024

Quantums

Last revised Sept. 5, 2024

Young Offenders

Last revised Sept. 5, 2024

Drug Offences

Last revised Sept. 5, 2024

Weapons Offences

Last revised Sept. 5, 2024

Impaired Driving

Last revised Sept. 5, 2024

Case Law

For more information on finding cases see our research guide: Finding and researching cases

E-Resources

Print

Alberta Court Judgments

A collection of the judgments of the Alberta Courts is available from CanLII. The official version of the reasons for judgment is the signed original or handwritten endorsement in the court file. If there is a question about the content of a judgment, the original court file takes precedence.

Digests

The Canadian Abridgment available on: Westlaw Canada

All Canadian Summaries, Canadian Case Summaries and Canada Digest are available on: LexisAdvance® Quicklaw®

Encyclopedias

Canadian Encyclopedic Digest

Canadian encyclopedic digest (C.E.D.) (Western), 4th ed.

Sections related to Sentencing include:

  • Sentencing. 
  • Youth Criminal Justice. 

The CED provides discussion of these areas of law with annotations to legislation and case law.  Additional information may be found by searching the indexes or database using the keywords “Sentence”, “Sentencing”, “Offence”, “Imprisonment’, “Fines”, “Probation”, “Suspended” and “Alternative measures”.

Also available electronically through: Westlaw Canada

Halsbury's Laws of Canada

Halsbury’s laws of Canada is a multi-volume set which includes coverage of Federal, Provincial & Territorial legislation. Also available electronically through: LexisAdvance® Quicklaw®

Titles related to Sentencing include:

  • Controlled Drugs and Cannabis (HDS)
  • Criminal Procedure (HC2)
  • Firearms, Weapons and Explosives (HFW)
  • Youth Justice (HYJ)

Additional information may be found under other topical headings.

Journals

E-Resources

Additional full-text articles are available electronically through:

Print

Websites

Alberta

National

Last revised Sept. 5, 2024


Disclaimer: As law librarians, we are pleased to provide you this resource for information and research purposes only – It is not a substitute for professional legal advice. We strive to bring you quality and current information in this resource, but we make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, accessibility, adequacy, or completeness of the information presented here. The sources featured are selected based on professional assessment and opinion, and do not constitute an endorsement, editorial, review, or guarantee.