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Public mischief (false report)Verified against official source
Verified against official source
This range was checked against the official legal text. Last verified: 2026-10-19.
Statutory range
Public mischief — indictable
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 5 years
- Fine
- No fine stated
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
s. 140(2)(a).
Public mischief — summary conviction
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 2 years less a day (s. 787 default)
- Fine
- Fine $0–$5,000 (s. 787 default)
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
s. 140(2)(b).
Note on this entry
Summary tier uses the s. 787 general summary penalty.
Source
Not legal advice. This range is the statutory penalty as written in the law — it is
not “your sentence.” What is NOT accounted for here: Priors, attempt, concurrence, plea, discretion, parole rules, ancillary orders. If you face a real
charge, consult a licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.