Christopher's Law (Sex Offender Registry), 2000

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Sections36

• 1Definitions

  1 (1) In this Act, “child” means a person who is under 18 years of age; (“enfant”) “Minister” means the Solicitor General or such other member of the Executive Council as may be assigned the administration of this Act under the Executive Council Act; (“ministre”) “ministry” means the Ministry of the Minister; (“ministère”) “offender” means a person, (a) who has been convicted of a sex offence, or (b) who has been found not criminally responsible of a sex offence on account of mental disorder; (“délinquant”) “pardon” means, (a) a free pardon granted under His Majesty’s royal prerogative of mercy, (b) a free pardon granted under section 748 of the Criminal Code (Canada), or (c) a pardon granted, or a record suspension ordered, under the Criminal Records Act (Canada); (“réhabilitation”) “police service” means a police service as defined under the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019; (“s…

• 1.
• 2Sex offender registry

  2 The ministry shall establish and maintain a registry containing the names, dates of birth and addresses of offenders, the sex offences for which, on or after the day section 3 comes into force, they are serving or have served a sentence or of which they have been convicted or found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder and such additional information as may be prescribed. 2000, c. 1, s. 2.

• 2.
• 3Offender required to report in person

  3 (1) Every offender who is resident in Ontario shall appear in person at a designated bureau, police station or detachment of the police service that provides policing where the offender resides or at another place in the area where the police service provides policing designated by that police service, (a) within the prescribed period after the offender is released from custody after serving the custodial portion of a sentence in respect of a sex offence; (a.0.1) within the prescribed period after the offender is released from custody on parole in respect of a sex offence; (a.1) within the prescribed period after the offender is convicted of a sex offence, if the offender is not given a custodial sentence; (a.2) within the prescribed period after the offender is ordered to serve the custodial portion of the sentence in respect of a sex offence intermittently; (a.2.1) within the prescri…

• 3.
• 4Information submitted to ministry

  4 (1) The police service shall cause the information provided by the offender under section 3 to be recorded and, if the person authorized by the police service to record the information is satisfied that the information provided by the offender is correct, shall submit the information to the ministry in a manner approved by the ministry. 2000, c. 1, s. 4; 2019, c. 1, Sched. 4, s. 6 (10). Verification of address (2) Subject to the regulations, the police service shall make reasonable efforts to verify an offender’s address, as provided to the police service by the offender, at least once after the offender last appeared in person at the police service under subsection 3 (1). 2024, c. 27, Sched. 3, s. 4. Same – unescorted release from designated hospitals (3) When a police service is notified by a hospital, as defined in subsection 672.1 (1) of the Criminal Code (Canada), that the person …

• 4.
• 4.1Reports of unescorted temporary absence passes, leaves

  4.1 (1) If an offender who is an inmate of a correctional institution is authorized to be released from the institution on an unescorted temporary absence pass, the correctional institution shall, within 24 hours before the inmate is released, notify the ministry, (a) that an unescorted temporary absence pass has been granted to the offender; (b) of the proposed dates of the offender’s release under the pass and of their return to the institution; and (c) of any relevant information about the offender’s proposed activities and whereabouts for the duration of their release under the pass. 2008, c. 3, s. 4; 2024, c. 27, Sched. 3, s. 1. Same – young persons (2) If an offender who is a young person serving any portion of their sentence in a youth custody facility is authorized under section 91 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Canada) to be released from the facility on an unescorted leave,…

• 5.
• 5Information recorded in registry

  5 (1) Upon receipt by the ministry of information submitted by a police service in accordance with section 4 or by a correctional institution or youth custody facility in accordance with section 4.1, the information shall be recorded in the sex offender registry. 2000, c. 1, s. 5 (1); 2008, c. 3, s. 5; 2019, c. 1, Sched. 4, s. 6 (11). Other information recorded in registry (2) The ministry may at any time obtain information about an offender from any other record of information available to the ministry, or from any other source that is not a record, and may record such information in the sex offender registry. 2000, c. 1, s. 5 (2). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2008, c. 3, s. 5 - 05/12/2008 2018, c. 3, Sched. 5, s. 7 (11) - no effect - see 2019, c. 1, Sched. 3, s. 5 - 26/03/2019 2019, c. 1, Sched. 4, s. 6 (11) - 01/04/2024

• 6.
• 6Offender’s right to review own record

  6 (1) Upon receiving a written request from an offender, a police service shall cause to be disclosed to the offender the information about the offender that is contained in the sex offender registry and cause the offender to be provided with a copy of that information. 2000, c. 1, s. 6 (1); 2019, c. 1, Sched. 4, s. 6 (12); 2024, c. 27, Sched. 3, s. 5 (1). Identification required (2) The police service shall require satisfactory proof of the identity of the offender before a disclosure is made under subsection (1). 2000, c. 1, s. 6 (2); 2019, c. 1, Sched. 4, s. 6 (12). Offender may correct information (3) If the offender believes that any information about the offender in the sex offender registry is incorrect, the offender shall provide the police service with the correct information and, if the person authorized by the police service to record this information is satisfied that the inf…

• 7.
• 7Reporting period

  7 (1) Subject to subsections (2), (3) and (4), an offender shall comply with section 3, (a) for 10 years after the offender first reports under section 3, if the maximum sentence for the sex offence of which the offender was convicted or found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder is not more than 10 years; (b) for the rest of their life, if the maximum sentence for the sex offence of which the offender was convicted or found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder is more than 10 years; (c) for the rest of their life, if, on or after the day section 3 comes into force, the offender is serving a sentence for, or is convicted or found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder of, more than one sex offence. 2000, c. 1, s. 7 (1); 2024, c. 27, Sched. 3, s. 1, 6 (1). Reporting requirement in abeyance while in custody (2) Subject to any regula…

• 8.
• 8Application of Act

  8 (1) This Act applies to every offender anywhere in Canada who, (a) is serving a sentence for a sex offence on the day section 3 comes into force; (b) is convicted of a sex offence on or after the day section 3 comes into force; or (c) is found not criminally responsible of a sex offence on account of mental disorder on or after the day section 3 comes into force. 2000, c. 1, s. 8 (1). Application of new reporting requirement (1.1) Despite subsection (1), clause 3 (1) (a.2) applies to every offender anywhere in Canada who is ordered, on or after the day this subsection comes into force, to serve a sentence described in that clause. 2008, c. 3, s. 6. Same (1.2) Despite subsection (1), clauses 3 (1) (a.0.1) and (a.3) apply to every offender anywhere in Canada who is released from custody as described in clause 3 (1) (a.0.1) or (a.3), as the case may be, on or after the day this subsection…

• 9.
• 10.
• 9Proof of pardon

  9 (1) An offender who receives a pardon for a sex offence may provide proof of the pardon to a police service by, (a) appearing in person at a designated bureau, police station or detachment of the police service that provides policing where the offender resides or at another place in the area where the police service provides policing designated by that police service; or (b) taking such other steps as may be prescribed by the regulations. 2024, c. 27, Sched. 3, s. 8. Information submitted to ministry (2) If the person authorized by the police service to receive the proof of the pardon is satisfied that the pardon was granted to the offender, the police service shall advise the ministry of the pardon. 2000, c. 1, s. 9 (2); 2019, c. 1, Sched. 4, s. 6 (15). (3) Repealed: 2011, c. 8, s. 5. Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2011, c. 8, s. 5 - 20/06/2011 2018, c. 3, Sched. 5, s. …

• 11.
• 9.0.1Conviction or finding overturned

  9.0.1 (1) This section applies in respect of an offender if the offender’s conviction or the offender’s finding of not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder in respect of a sex offence is overturned. 2024, c. 27, Sched. 3, s. 9. Proof (2) An offender to whom this section applies may provide proof of the conviction or finding being overturned to a police service by, (a) appearing in person at a designated bureau, police station or detachment of the police service that provides policing where the offender resides or at another place in the area where the police service provides policing designated by that police service; or (b) taking such other steps as may be prescribed by the regulations. 2024, c. 27, Sched. 3, s. 9. Information submitted to ministry (3) If the person authorized by the police service to receive the proof mentioned in subsection (2) is satisfied that the c…

• 12.
• 9.1Pardon

  9.1 (1) If an offender receives a pardon of the type described in clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “pardon” in subsection 1 (1) in respect of a sex offence for which this Act is made applicable to the offender, the ministry shall delete every reference to and record of the offender from the sex offender registry in respect of that sex offence. 2024, c. 27, Sched. 3, s. 10. Conviction or finding overturned (2) If an offender’s conviction or finding in respect of a sex offence for which this Act is made applicable to the offender is overturned, the ministry shall delete every reference to and record of the offender from the sex offender registry in respect of that sex offence. 2024, c. 27, Sched. 3, s. 10. Time limit (3) The ministry shall, 50 years after the death of an offender, delete every reference to and record of the offender from the sex offender registry. 2024, c. 27, Sched.…

• 9.1 #11Pardon
• 10Disclosure prohibited

  10 (1) Subject to subsections (2), (3), (3.0.2) and (3.1), no person shall disclose to another person information obtained from the sex offender registry in the course of their duties under this Act or received in the course of their duties under this Act except as provided by this Act. 2000, c. 1, s. 10 (1); 2024, c. 27, Sched. 3, s. 1, 11 (1); 2025, c. 24, Sched. 3, s. 1 (1). Exception (2) A member of a police service and an employee of or person authorized by the ministry for the purposes of this section shall have access to the sex offender registry at any time and may collect, retain and use information obtained from the sex offender registry for any purpose under this Act, under section 80 of the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 or for crime prevention or law enforcement purposes. 2019, c. 1, Sched. 4, s. 6 (16). Same (3) A member of a police service and an employee of or pe…

• 13.
• 11Offences by offenders

  11 (1) Every offender who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with this Act or provides false information under this Act is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable, (a) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $25,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or to both; (b) for a subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $25,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years less a day, or to both. 2000, c. 1, s. 11 (1). Offences by other persons (2) Every person who wilfully contravenes section 10 is guilty of an offence. 2000, c. 1, s. 11 (2). Warrant for arrest (3) If a provincial judge or justice of the peace is satisfied by information on oath that an offender is required to and has failed to comply with section 3 or 7, the provincial judge or justice of the peace may issue a warrant for the arrest of the offender for the purpos…

• 14.
• 12Protection from personal liability

  12 (1) No action or other proceeding for damages shall be instituted against the Crown, any current or former member of the Executive Council, a First Nation, an entity that employs First Nation Officers, a municipality, a police service board, a correctional institution, any member of a police service or any person providing services to a police service or correctional institution or any person employed in or providing services to the ministry for any act or omission in the execution or intended execution of a duty or authority under this Act or for any alleged neglect or default in the execution in good faith of that duty or authority. 2008, c. 3, s. 7; 2019, c. 1, Sched. 4, s. 6 (17); 2024, c. 27, Sched. 3, s. 13. Crown liability (2) Despite subsection 8 (3) of the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, 2019, subsection (1) does not relieve the Crown of liability in respect of a tort co…

• 15.
• 13Freedom of information, protection of privacy legislation

  13 (1) Personal information may be collected, retained, disclosed and used in accordance with this Act despite the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. 2000, c. 1, s. 13 (1). Same (2) Subsections 39 (2) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and 29 (2) of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act do not apply in respect of information collected under this Act. 2000, c. 1, s. 13 (2).

• 16.
• 14Regulations

  14 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations, (a) prescribing provisions of the Criminal Code (Canada) for the purpose of the definition of “sex offence”; (a.1) prescribing the various periods of time referred to in subsections 3 (1) and 7 (2); (b) prescribing additional information to be maintained in the sex offender registry and to be provided by offenders under section 3, by a police service under subsection 4 (3) or by a correctional institution or youth custody facility under section 4.1, or added to the sex offender registry under subsection 5 (2); (c) prescribing the circumstances under which an offender shall be deemed to reside in Ontario or in an area in Ontario; (c.1) prescribing what constitutes a change in address for the purposes of clause 3 (1) (c); (c.2) for the purposes of clauses 3 (1) (c.4) and (c.5), governing the types of changes in respect of which th…

• 15

  15 Omitted (provides for coming into force of provisions of this Act). 2000, c. 1, s. 15.

• 16

  16 Omitted (enacts short title of this Act). 2000, c. 1, s. 16. ______________