C-235 · Respecting Families of Murdered and Brutalized Persons Act
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (increasing parole ineligibility)
- Amends the Criminal Code to increase parole ineligibility for serious crimes like abduction and murder.
- Requires offenders convicted of specific violent crimes against the same victim to serve 25 to 40 years without parole.
- Allows judges to consider jury recommendations when deciding the parole ineligibility period.
This part of the bill modifies the sentencing of individuals convicted of serious crimes such as murder and sexual offenses by requiring a minimum of 25 years in prison before they can be eligible for parole. It also allows juries to recommend longer sentences without parole eligibility, up to 40 years.
This matters to the public as it seeks to ensure longer prison terms for offenders of severe crimes, potentially addressing concerns about public safety and justice for victims. It also reflects societal demands for more stringent consequences for heinous acts.
The bill addresses the perceived leniency in parole eligibility for offenders convicted of serious crimes against individuals.
Victims' families and society could benefit from longer sentences that reduce the possibility of early release of dangerous offenders.
The tradeoff may involve reduced judicial discretion in sentencing, as judges are required to consider jury recommendations and may feel compelled to impose longer sentences, which could be viewed as limiting the rights of offenders to fair consideration for parole.
Read the actual text (4)
1This Act may be cited as the Respecting Families of Murdered and Brutalized Persons Act .
2Section 745 of the Criminal Code is amended by adding the following after paragraph (a): (a.1) in respect of an accused who has been convicted — in respect of the same victim and the same event or series of events — of an offence under section 151 to 153.1 or 271 to 273, an offence under section 279 or 280 to 283, and murder, that the accused be sentenced to imprisonment for life without eligibility for parole until the accused has served at least twenty-five years of the sentence or until the period referred to under section 745.52 has expired;
3The Act is amended by adding the following after section 745.21: 745.22 When a jury finds an accused referred to in paragraph 745(a.1) guilty, the judge presiding at the trial shall, before discharging the jury, put to them the following question: You have found the accused guilty of ( state offences ) and the law requires that I now pronounce a sentence of imprisonment for life against the accused. Do you wish to make any recommendation with respect to the number of years that the accused must serve before the accused is eligible for release on parole? You are not required to make any recommendation but if you do, your recommendation will be considered by me when I am determining whether I should substitute for the twenty-five year period, which the law would otherwise require the accused to serve before the accused is eligible to be considered for release on parole, a number of years that is more than twenty -five but not more than forty.
4The Act is amended by adding the following after section 745.51: 745.52 At the time of the sentencing under section 745 of an accused referred to in paragraph 745(a.1), the judge who presided at the trial of the accused or, if that judge is unable to do so, any judge of the same court may, having regard to the character of the accused, the nature of the offences and the circumstances surrounding their commission, and to the recommendation, if any, made under section 745.22, by order, substitute for twenty-five years a number of years of imprisonment that is more than twenty-five but not more than forty without eligibility for parole, as the judge deems fit in the circumstances.
Official drafter summary (parl.ca)
This enactment amends the Criminal Code to provide that a person convicted of the abduction, sexual assault and murder of the same victim in respect of the same event or series of events is to be sentenced to imprisonment for life without eligibility for parole until the person has served a sentence of between twenty-five and forty years, as determined by the presiding judge after considering the recommendation, if any, of the jury. Available on the House of Commons website at the following address: www.ourcommons.ca 1st Session, 45th Parliament, 3 - 4 Charles III, 2025 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-235 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (increasing parole ineligibility) His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the Respecting Families of Murdered and Brutalized Persons Act . R.S., c. C-46 Criminal Code 2 Section 745 of the Criminal Code is amended by adding the following after paragraph (a): Start of inserted block (a. 1 ) in respect of an accused who has been convicted — in respect of the same victim and the same event or series of events — of an offence under section 151 to 153.1 or 271 to 273, an offence under section 279 or 280 to 283, and murder, that the accused be sentenced to imprisonment for life without eligibility for parole until the accused has served at least twenty-five years of the sentence or until the period referred to under section 745.52 has expired; End of inserted block 3 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 745.21 : Recommendation by jury Start of inserted block 745.22 When a jury finds an accused referred to in paragraph 745 (a. 1 ) guilty, the judge presiding at the trial shall, before discharging the jury, put to them the following question: You have found the accused guilty of ( state offences ) and the law requires that I now pronounce a sentence of imprisonment for life against the accused. Do you wish to make any recommendation with respect to the number of years that the accused must serve before the accused is eligible for release on parole? You are not required to make any recommendation but if you do, your recommendation will be considered by me when I am determining whether I should substitute for the twenty-five year period, which the law would otherwise require the accused to serve before the accused is eligible to be considered for release on parole, a number of years that is more than twenty -five but not more than forty. End of inserted block 4 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 745.51 : Ineligibility for parole Start of inserted block 745.52 At the time of the sentencing under section 745 of an accused referred to in paragraph 745 (a. 1 ), the judge who presided at the trial of the accused or, if that judge is unable to do so, any judge of the same court may, having regard to the character of the accused, the nature of the offences and the circumstances surrounding their commission, and to the recommendation, if any, made under section 745.22, by order, substitute for twenty-five years a number of years of imprisonment that is more than twenty-five but not more than forty without eligibility for parole, as the judge deems fit in the circumstances. End of inserted block Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons Publication Explorer Publication Explorer ParlVU Senate House of Commons Library of Parliament Employment at Parliament Important Notices $(function () { $('[data-toggle="tooltip"]').tooltip({ delay: { "show": 300, "hide": 50 }, placement: "top" }) }) $(document).ready(function () { var rawUrl = '/documentviewer/en/45-1/bill/C-235/first-reading'; $("a[href$='#StartOfContent']").each(function() { var newHref = rawUrl + "#StartOfContent"; $(this).attr('href', newHref); }); })
- Constitutionality under the Charter of Rights
- Discretion versus mandatory sentencing
- Perceived effectiveness of existing laws
- Support for rehabilitation versus punishment
Conservatives generally support the bill, while Bloc Québécois and Liberals raise constitutional concerns.
- First reading (House of Commons)Sep 22, 2025
- Second reading (House of Commons)Mar 24, 2026