The Transformation of Federal Corrections for Women

Myths and Realities

Myth:

Most women offenders have served a previous federal sentence.

Reality:

False! Most women offenders have not served a previous federal sentence. As of September 1999, 85.9% of women offenders were serving their first federal sentence. Of the remainder, 9.9% were serving their second federal sentence, and 4.2% had served at least two previous federal sentences.⁸

Myth:

The cost of incarcerating male and female offenders is the same.

Reality:

False! It costs a lot more money to incarcerate women than it does men, largely because their numbers are fewer. Another factor stems from the need for CSC to provide women offenders with equitable programs and services. In 1998-99, the average annual cost of incarcerating a male offender in a federal institution was $59,661. Broken down by security level of the institution, the average annual cost of incarcerating a male offender was $87,135 for maximum security institutions, $52,688 for medium security institutions, $46,988 for minimum security institutions, and $29,522 for community correctional centres. In 1998-99, the average annual cost of incarcerating a woman offender in one of the new regional facilities was $113,610.⁹

Myth:

There is no rehabilitative value in the community-style living arrangements offered at each of the regional facilities.

Reality:

False! The community-style living arrangements offered at each of the regional facilities are designed to promote healing and wellness. Women offenders are responsible for their daily living needs, including cooking, cleaning, and laundry. These living arrangements encourage women to take responsibility for their lives and empower them to make meaningful, productive life choices that will benefit them upon release into the community.

Myth:

All women who commit crimes should be viewed as victims and not offenders.

Reality:

False! It is true that many women offenders come from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and that their lives have been characterized by poverty, violence, and physical and/or sexual abuse. However, women offenders do commit serious crimes that harm others and compromise public safety.

Myth:

Very few women are incarcerated for committing violent crimes.

Reality:

False! Forty-four per cent of women offenders serving a federal sentence have committed violent crimes (e.g. armed robbery and assault). A further 18% of the offender population is serving a sentence for first- or second-degree murder.¹⁰

Myth:

Most women offenders have severe mental health needs that require intensive support.

Reality:

False! Approximately 35 of 354 incarcerated women have special needs and/or mental health problems that require long-term intensive mental health treatment.¹¹ These women are currently housed in mental health units at the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and the Prison for Women in Kingston, Ontario, where they participate in intensive mental health treatment programming that is delivered by certified professionals.

Myth:

Most women offenders commit new crimes while on full parole or statutory release.

Reality:

False! Most women offenders do not commit new crimes while on full parole or statutory release.

Of the 125 women offenders on full parole in 1998-99, 79.2% successfully completed their parole without incident. While 10.4% had their parole revoked for commission of a new non-violent offence, in no instance was parole revoked for commission of a new violent offence.

Of the 85 women offenders on statutory release in 1998-99, 64.7% successfully completed their release without incident. While 9.4% had their statutory release revoked for commission of a new non-violent offence, in only 2.4% of cases was statutory release revoked for commission of a new violent offence.

The number of offenders who meet the terms and conditions of their parole or statutory release provides impressive evidence of the effectiveness of the conditional release system in Canada.^{12 13}