A recent study published in Police Quarterly investigates how Canadian courts handle cases where police officers break the law. Led by Danielle McNabb, an assistant professor of political science at Brock University, and Kate Puddister, an associate professor at the University of Guelph, the research offers the first large-scale look at how Canadian courts sentence police officers convicted of violating the public's trust. The study explores the legal concept of "breach of trust," a criminal offense in Canada that holds public officials—especially those with significant power—to a higher standard of behavior. When these individuals abuse their authority, the law expects them to be held accountable. The research analyzed 93 sentencing decisions involving over 100 police officers from 1990 to 2024. It found that judges often treat police misconduct seriously, focusing on punishment and deterrence in 92% of cases. However, the researchers argue that this individual-focused approach doesn't fully tackle the broader, systemic issues that lead to police misconduct. They propose two key reforms: first, amending the Criminal Code to include a specific "aggravating factor" for crimes committed by police officers. In criminal law, aggravating factors are circumstances that require judges to consider harsher sentences. For example, in cases involving hate crimes or domestic violence, judges must consider more severe penalties. McNabb says that adding an officer-specific aggravating factor would help courts consistently recognize the societal harm caused by police criminality and ensure sentences focus on restoring public trust. The second proposed reform is increasing public transparency around police misconduct cases, from the initial investigation to the final sentencing. This would allow the public and police alike to better understand how accountability mechanisms work in practice. However, the researchers note that these reforms are only partial solutions. Even with harsher sentences, systemic issues like departmental culture, the "blue wall of silence" (a culture of secrecy and solidarity among police), and the disproportionate rates of police violence against Black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities remain unaddressed. The study also highlights the types of crimes committed by police officers. The most common offenses were assault, theft, and misuse of police property—often involving accessing databases to stalk victims or investigate other crimes. Around 84% of these offenses were committed by officers on duty. The most frequent sentences given were probation (48% of cases), incarceration for less than two years (26.7%), and conditional discharge or conditional sentence orders (18.8% each). While these sentences reflect the seriousness of the offenses, the researchers emphasize that they don't fully resolve the deeper issues of police accountability and institutional behavior.