FORUM on Corrections Research

A descriptive comparison of demographic and family characteristics of the Canadian and offender populations

The structure of the Canadian family is changing. While the majority of the population continues to live in some form of family setting and married couples still make up the largest proportion of family "types," the Canadian family is becoming increasingly diverse.

Throughout the past several decades, there has been a substantial increase in the number of common-law unions and single-parent families. There bas also been a significant increase in the incidence of divorce and remarriage. A wealth of data is available for examining the changing structure of the Canadian family, but relatively little is known about the families, backgrounds and relationships of the offender population.

This article, therefore, provides a descriptive comparison of several demographic and family characteristics of the Canadian and federal offender populations to generate a general picture of how offender demographic and family characteristics differ from those of the general Canadian population. Methodology Data on the offender population were taken from the Correctional Service of Canada's Family Violence Incidence Study.⁽²⁾ This study was based on file reviews of 935 offenders admitted to federal institutions between June and November of 1992.

A total of 2,806 offenders were admitted to federal institutions during this period. Therefore, this sample represents approximately one third of all offenders admitted to federal institutions during the study period.

Every attempt was made within the Family Violence Incidence Study to meet established criteria for random sampling, but some exceptions were necessary to ensure that the project proceeded in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Institutions from which fewer than seven files were selected were not included in the sample. As well, the unavailability of some files led to the random replacement of files. However, these departures from random sampling criteria are unlikely to result in major misrepresentations of regional or national admission populations.

Data on the general Canadian population were taken from the 1991 Census of Population.⁽³⁾ The census collected basic demographic information from all usual Canadian residents. Detailed cultural and socio-economic data were collected from approximately two million households. This sample data was then weighted to reflect the total Canadian population.

It is important to note that this article relies on two independent data sources. So, findings should not be generalized beyond the scope of this study. They may not necessarily represent differences or similarities between all offenders in federal institutions and members of the general Canadian population.

Two other major data comparability issues must be highlighted. First, all members of the offender sample were men who were 18 or older. Ethnocultural group comparisons were made with the total Canadian population-men and women. Further, marital status and religion comparisons were made with the general Canadian male population aged 15 and older, while age and sex comparisons were made with the general Canadian population aged 18 or older. Gender According to the 1991 census, men accounted for just under half (49.5%) of the Canadian population. We know, however, that men account for far more than half of the federal offender population. In 1993-1994, 97% of admissions to federal institutions were men. In fact, the entire Family Violence Incidence Study sample population is male. Age In recent years, much discussion has focused on the baby boom generation (those born between 1951 and 1966), particularly the fact that this large population is aging. Clearly, both the general and offender populations are also aging.

The number of adults in the general population between the ages of 20 and 64 increased by 8% between 1986 and 1991. By comparison, the 25 or older federal inmate population increased from 59% in 1984-1985 to 73% in 1992-1993. During the same period, the number of federal inmates between ages 18 and 24 dropped from 35% in 1984-1985 to 27% in 1992-1993.⁽⁴⁾

However, nearly one quarter (24%) of the offender population was between 20 and 24 years of age, while just one tenth of the general adult population was in this age group. Further, 39% of the offender population was between the ages of 30 and 44, as compared with 33.5% of the Canadian adult population. Ethnocultural group Criminological research has found that certain segments of society are often overrepresented in offender statistics.⁽⁵⁾ Canadian researchers have found the Aboriginal population to be overrepresented in the Canadian prison population. This disparity was evident in the data sources used for this article.

Aboriginal persons accounted for just 3.8% of the general Canadian population, but 14% of the offender sample identified themselves as Aboriginal. Persons who identified themselves as Black were also overrepresented. Blacks accounted for just 1.9% of the general Canadian population, but 5.4% of the offender sample. Religion Both the offender (50.2%) and male Canadian (45.2%) populations were predominantly Roman Catholic. Protestant denominations were the next-largest religious affiliation represented in both groups (22.1% and 34.9%, respectively).

One quarter (25.3%) of the offender population had no religious affiliation (or their religion was not stated), but just 14.2% of the general Canadian male population (15 and older) indicated that they had no religious affiliation. Family structure Long-term trends in marriage and divorce have played a major role in changes in overall family structures. During the past few decades, the marriage rate has fallen, while both the age at which Canadian men marry and the divorce rate have risen. There were 7.1 marriages per 1,000 Canadians in 1990, compared with more than 9 marriages per 1,000 Canadians in the early 1970s.

The marital status of the offender population differed considerably from the general male population (see Table 1). The offender population was more likely to be single (42.4% versus 34.2%) or separated (6.4% versus whereas the general male population was more likely to be married or living in a common-law relationship (55.6% versus 44.6%).

Table 1

Marital Status of the General Male Population (15 or older) and the Federal Institutional Population (18 or older)
Marital status	General male population	Offender population*
Single	34.2%	42.4%
Legally "married" Common-law relationship Married	55.6% 12.4% 43.2%	44.6% 32.6% 12.0%
Separated	2.6%	6.4%
Widowed	2.3%	1.2%
Divorced	5.3%	5.2%
* Marital staus of 0.2% of the offender sample was unknown

Living in a common-law relationship has become more popular in Canada. The number of common-law couples more than doubled between 1981 and 1991, while the number of married couples increased by just 8%. This family structure was even more common in the offender population. The offenders were roughly three times (32.6%) more likely to be living in a common-law relationship than to be married (12%). By comparison, just 12.4% of the general population were living in a common-law relationship, while 43.2% were married.

Many Canadians are also marrying more than once. Approximately one of every five men (21%) and women (20%) who were married in 1990 had been previously married. In 1970, only 8% of men and 7% of women who got married had been previously married. Consistent with the general population, a significant proportion of the offender sample had been married more than once. In fact, 18% of the offender population had three or more previous marriages.

While the marriage rate has fallen, the divorce rate has increased dramatically. In 1971, there were just 1.4 divorces per 1,000 Canadians. By 1991, the divorce rate had doubled to 2.8 per 1,000 Canadians. Interestingly, roughly the same proportion of both the general and offender populations were divorced.

As for children, just over half (52%) of husband-wife families in the general population had children living at home. A slightly higher proportion (59.1%) of the offender population indicated that they had children or stepchildren. Nearly two thirds of this offender group were over the age of 30. A general snapshot... Based on these key demographic and family variables, it is clear that there are several differences between offender and general Canadian family structures.

A greater proportion of the offender population is single. Further, the offender population was less likely to be married (12% versus 43.2%) and more likely to be living in a common-law relationship (32.6% versus 12.4%). However, a greater overall proportion of the general population was married or living in a common-law relationship.

The two groups had similar divorce rates and a high occurrence of multiple past marriages. However, the offender population was more likely to be currently separated from their partner (6.4% versus 2.6%).

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⁽¹⁾Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Statistics Canada, 19th Floor, R. H. Coats Building, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6.
⁽²⁾Family Violence Incidence Study (Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 1995).
⁽³⁾Statistics Canada, A Portrait of Families in Canada (Ottawa: Industry, Science and Technology Canada, 1993) See also Statistics Canada, Basic Facts on Families in Canada: Past and Present (Ottawa: Industry, Science and Technology Canada, 1993). And see Statistics Canada, 1991 Census Highlights as released by The Daily (Ottawa: Industry, Science and Technology Canada, 1994). And see Statistics Canada, Fertility (Ottawa: Industry, Science and Technology Canada, 1993). And see Statistics Canada, Age, Sex and Marital Status (Ottawa: Industry, Science and Technology Canada, 1992).
⁽⁴⁾Statistics Canada, Adult Correctional Services in Canada: 1993-1994 (Ottawa: Industry, Science and Technology Canada, 1994).
⁽⁵⁾The likelihood of involvement in criminal events is associated with a variety of social characteristics including age, gender and minority group membership. Please see v. Sacco and L. Kennedy, The Criminal Event (Scarborough: Nelson Canada, 1994).