Research at a Glance: Judicial Discretion and MMPs (Mandatory Minimum Penalties)

What we found:

Young people noted that the most important factors judges should consider in fair and equitable sentencing are personal circumstances and history of the accused person, and the nature of the crime, including the context, severity and motive for the crime. Ultimately, young people did not believe that mandatory minimum penalties (MMPs) were beneficial because they limit judicial discretion.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field	Value
Last Updated	April 17, 2026, 18:34 (UTC)
Created	April 17, 2026, 18:34 (UTC)
contact_email	OG-GO@justice.gc.ca
criticality_level	[]
geographic_scope	[]
open_canada_collection	publication
open_canada_date_published	2018-07-05 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords	{"fr": ["Décision du tribunal", "Recherche", "Système judiciaire", "Juge", "Justice pénale", "Jeunesse"], "en": ["Court decisions", "Research", "Justice system", "judges", "Criminal justice", "Youth"]}
open_canada_subject	["law", "persons"]
sensitivity_level	unrestricted
title_fr	Recherche en un coup d'oeil: Pouvoir judiciaire discrétionnaire et PMO
update_frequency	as_needed