FORUM on Corrections Research

Female young offenders in Canada: Revised edition (R-80, 1998)

Colleen A. Dell, and Roger Boe

The focus of this report is a summary and presentation of recent trends involving female young offenders in Canada. It is a revision of the original report, B-18, published in September 1997.

The data used to compile this report is derived from three sources: the Uniform Crime Report Survey, the Youth Court Survey and the Corrections Key Indicator Report, all published by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Where available, the analyses in this report examine female young offender trends over the past 6 years. The analyses were directed toward seven questions:

1. Has there been an increase in female youth charged by the police, 1992-1997?
   At the national level, no. (By offence category, there was a marked decrease in property crimes, an increase in violent and other crimes and a slight increase in drug offences).
   
2. Has there been an increase in female youth processed through the youth court system, 1991/92-1996/97?
   At the national level, overall there has been a slight decrease. By offence category, there has been a significant decrease in property crimes, a notable increase in violent and Young Offender Act offences, a slight increase in drug offences and relative stability in the category of other crime.
3. Are female youth getting involved with crime at a younger age?
   At the national level, no.
   
4. Are female youth getting more violent?
   Since 1992, the national rate of violent crime among female youth has increased from 38 per 10,000 to 47 per 10,000.
   
5. Has there been an increase in the frequency of female youth remanded into custody pending disposition of a charge?
   Conclusions were tentative because only two provinces are reported.
   
6. Are female youth getting more serious dispositions?
   At the national level, there was an increase in probation, open custody and secure custody. Fine and community service order and absolute discharge both decreased.
   
7. Has there been an increase in the number of female youth transferred to adult court?
   Very few females [a total of 20 female youth cases] were transferred to adult court between 1991/92 and 1996/97.