If you are found guilty of a crime, there are a few different ways to avoid a prison sentence in Canada. Two of the most common alternatives to a prison sentence for less severe offences are a Conditional Discharge and an Absolute Discharge. A “discharge” is also a finding of guilt without a conviction. Since a discharge isn’t a conviction, after a certain number of years, the discharged offence will be removed from the criminal record searches without the need to apply for a pardon. How To Be Granted A Discharge – The Legal Requirements The sentencing judge must find, that granting the discharge: 1. Would be in the best interests of the accused; and 2. The discharge must not be contrary to the public interest. Other factors to consider are: • Discharges are only available for crimes where the minimum punishment is less than 14 years imprisonment. • Although discharges will not appear on most criminal record searches, they can be referred to if there is a criminal conviction in the future, and it will likely impact future sentences. It is very uncommon for a repeating offender to receive multiple discharges. An Example Where A Discharge May Be Granted You may be asking yourself, what kind of offender could get a discharge, let’s work through an example: • The offender is an abused woman, Jane Doe; her partner, Jeff Doe physically, and emotionally abuses her and controls the family money, • Jane’s family income is low, • Jane secures a part-time job and is accepted into a college program, against her husband’s wishes, • Jane’s husband sabotages her efforts and forces her to quit, • In a fit of despair, Jane smashes her husband’s car windows with a hockey stick before leaving with her children to an abused women’s shelter, • In an effort to force her to return home, Jeff calls the police, and Jane is charged with Mischief under $5000. Jane retains a criminal defence lawyer; Jane does not deny what she did, so she pleads guilty. Her criminal lawyer can now argue to the judge that Jane should get a discharge because. 1. It would be in Jane’s best interests not to be convicted; she would be unable to move forward in her quest for independence if a criminal record stopped her from finding work. 2. The public interest would be better served by allowing Jane to work towards providing for herself and her children; a criminal record would hurt her chances of doing that. Types Of Discharges There are two types of discharges, a conditional discharge and an absolute discharge; below we will examine both types: 1) Conditional Discharges Often, at the completion of criminal proceedings (following a trial or a guilty plea), offenders will mention that they received “probation”; however. there is no stand-alone sentence of probation. Probation is typically one aspect of another type of sentence. Many people given probation, in fact, received a Conditional Discharge. A Conditional Discharge is given, and an accused must then complete the “conditions” of the sent

1. Your Handy Guide To Understanding Conditional And Absolute
Discharges
If you are found guilty of a crime, there are a few different ways to avoid a prison sentence in
Canada. Two of the most common alternatives to a prison sentence for less severe offences are a
Conditional Discharge and an Absolute Discharge.
A “discharge” is also a finding of guilt without a conviction. Since a discharge isn’t a conviction,
after a certain number of years, the discharged offence will be removed from the criminal record
searches without the need to apply for a pardon.
How To Be Granted A Discharge – The Legal Requirements
The sentencing judge must find, that granting the discharge:
1. Would be in the best interests of the accused; and
2. The discharge must not be contrary to the public interest.
Other factors to consider are:
 Discharges are only available for crimes where the minimum punishment is less than 14 years
imprisonment.

2.  Although discharges will not appear on most criminal record searches, they can be referred to if
there is a criminal conviction in the future, and it will likely impact future sentences. It is very
uncommon for a repeating offender to receive multiple discharges.
An Example Where A Discharge May Be Granted
You may be asking yourself, what kind of offender could get a discharge, let’s work through an
example:
 The offender is an abused woman, Jane Doe; her partner, Jeff Doe physically, and emotionally
abuses her and controls the family money,
 Jane’s family income is low,
 Jane secures a part-time job and is accepted into a college program, against her husband’s wishes,
 Jane’s husband sabotages her efforts and forces her to quit,
 In a fit of despair, Jane smashes her husband’s car windows with a hockey stick before leaving with
her children to an abused women’s shelter,
 In an effort to force her to return home, Jeff calls the police, and Jane is charged with Mischief
under $5000.
Jane retains a criminal defence lawyer; Jane does not deny what she did, so she pleads guilty.
Her criminal lawyer can now argue to the judge that Jane should get a discharge because.
1. It would be in Jane’s best interests not to be convicted; she would be unable to move forward in her
quest for independence if a criminal record stopped her from finding work.
2. The public interest would be better served by allowing Jane to work towards providing for herself
and her children; a criminal record would hurt her chances of doing that.
Types Of Discharges
There are two types of discharges, a conditional discharge and an absolute discharge; below we
will examine both types:
1) Conditional Discharges
Often, at the completion of criminal proceedings (following a trial or a guilty plea), offenders
will mention that they received “probation”; however. there is no stand-alone sentence of

3. probation. Probation is typically one aspect of another type of sentence. Many people given
probation, in fact, received a Conditional Discharge. A Conditional Discharge is given, and an
accused must then complete the “conditions” of the sentence.
Some of the conditions could include probation, paying restitution, entering counselling etc. If
the “conditions” are completed, after 3 years, the charge should automatically be removed from a
criminal record search.
2) Absolute Discharges
Absolute Discharges differ from Conditional Discharges in that there are no conditions attached,
and they will be wiped from criminal records searches after only 1 year. It is very uncommon for
judges to award an absolute discharge, and they are typically reserved for the most minor of
crimes or very sympathetic accused.
Discharges are a creative way for the justice system to impose a penalty for lawbreaking while
ensuring that minor offences do not permanently appear in criminal records. They also keep
people out of prison who pose no further danger to society.
Get In Touch With Us!
Remember, the best way to preserve your rights if you’ve been accused of a crime is to hire
a criminal defence lawyer.
Disclaimer: Kindly note that sending or receiving information through this site does not
establish a solicitor-client relationship. Legal matters are fact-specific, and the law is variably
changing. The views expressed and the content provided on this blog are general guidelines and
cannot substitute for proper legal advice. Schedule your legal consultation by clicking here: Let’s
meet!