Correctional Service Canada
www.csc-scc.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Research Brief
This Web page has been archived on the Web.
Adult Female Offenders in Canada: Recent Trends
Colleen Anne Dell & Roger Boe
Research Branch
Correctional Service Canada
May 15, 1998
SUMMARY
The focus of this report is a summary and presentation of recent trends involving adult female offenders in Canada. The report was written in response to a special request, and supplements a presentation for the Heads of Corrections. To allow for comparison, it adheres to the same format of Research Brief B-18, Female Young Offenders in Canada: Recent Trends, by Colleen Anne Dell and Roger Boe.
The data used to compile this report is derived from two sources: the Uniform Crime Report Survey and the Adult Criminal Court Survey, both published by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Where available, the analyses in this report examine adult female offender trends over the past 5 years. The analyses were directed toward five questions:
1. Has there been an increase in adult females charged by the police, 1992 - 1996?
- At the national level, no. There has been a decrease.
- At the regional level, no. There has been a decrease.
- By offense category, there was a notable decrease in property and other crimes and a slight decrease in drug and violent offenses.
2. Has there been an increase in adult females processed through the court system, 1994/95 - 1996/97?
- At the national level, there has been a slight decrease.
- At the regional level, all regions declined slightly except the Atlantic which increased notably and the Pacific which increased slightly.
- By offense category, there was a trend decrease in property crimes and a slight decrease in violent, drug and other crimes.
3. Are adult females getting involved with crime at a younger age?
- At the national level, no.
- A mean age of 32 has remained the same from 1994/95 to 1996/97.
4. Are adult females getting more violent?
- According to the Uniform Crime Report Survey, since 1992, the national rate of violent crime among adult females has remained between 12 and 13 per 10,000.
- Since 1992, the Pacific, Prairie and Atlantic regions had a slight increase in the rate of adult females charged for violent crime and the Ontario and Quebec regions had a slight decline.
- By offense, homicide remained stable at a low rate from 1992 to 1996. There was a slight decrease in attempted murder, non-sexual assault, abduction, robbery and sexual assault and other sexual offenses.
- Adult Criminal Court Survey statistics indicate at the national level there was a decrease from 1994/95 to 1996/97 in the number of adult females processed through court.
- Focusing on specific offenses over the three year period, there was relative stability for homicide, attempted murder, abduction, kidnapping and robbery and a decrease in sexual assault and other sexual offenses, major assault and common assault.
5. Are adult females getting more serious dispositions?
- At the national level, there was an increase in probation and other. There was a decrease in fine and unknown and a slight decrease in prison. Restitution remained relatively stable from 1994/95 to 1996/97.
- At the regional level, the most notable findings were an increase in probation and a decrease in fine, other and restitution in the Atlantic region; an increase in probation and a decrease in fine and restitution in the Quebec region; a decrease in fine and an increase in probation and other in the Ontario region; a decrease in fine and an increase in other and probation in the Prairie region; and a significant decrease in prison and fine and a significant increase in probation and other in the Atlantic region.
- The unit of analysis is cases processed (Adult Criminal Court Survey) and incidents or persons charged (Uniform Crime Report) (in the latter case this includes the number of people charged or recommended for charges by police, not the number of charges laid or recommended to be laid against those people). An explanation and definition of the data sources are presented in Appendix A to Appendix C respectively. For further clarification, please refer to the original source.
- The Adult Criminal Court Survey data are presented for fiscal years. The Uniform Crime Report Survey data are presented for calendar years. Caution must therefore be made in comparison of the data sources. As well, the Postcensal and updated Postcensal population estimates (Statistics Canada) are for July 1 of the indicted years.
- The data sources and population estimates used in this report may not be the most recent revision of the data. Data are revised by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics the year following the original release. The changes, however, are small and do not effect the findings of this report.
- The 1992/93 and 1993/94 Adult Criminal Court Surveys are not used in this report. They represent only 30% survey coverage whereas the 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97 represent approximately 80% coverage. The 1994/95 and 1995/96 surveys account for Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. The 1996/97 survey accounts for Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Yukon.
- To contextualize the UCR findings in this report, the rate of adult females and males and youth females and males charged by police increased from 1984 - 1991. From 1991 to 1996, the rates, overall, declined.
SUMMARY *
NOTE*
TABLE OF CONTENTS*
List of Tables*
List of Charts*
RESEARCH QUESTIONS*
QUESTION 1: HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN ADULT FEMALES CHARGED BY THE POLICE, 1992 - 1996? *
QUESTION 2: HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN ADULT FEMALES PROCESSED THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, 1994/95 - 1996/97? *
QUESTION 3: ARE ADULT FEMALES GETTING INVOLVED WITH CRIME AT A YOUNGER AGE? *
QUESTION 4: ARE ADULT FEMALES GETTING MORE VIOLENT? *
QUESTION 5: ARE ADULT FEMALES GETTING MORE SERIOUS DISPOSITIONS*? *
APPENDIX A*
APPENDIX B*
APPENDIX C*
Table 1.1: Adult Females Charged by Police*, Canada *
Table 1.2: Total Adult Female (Aged 18+ Years) Population*, Canada *
Table 1.3: Adult Females Charged by Police*, Regions *
Table 1.4: Total Adult Female (Aged 18+ Years) Population*, Regions *
Table 2.1: Adult Females Processed Through the Court System*, Canada *
Table 2.2: Adult Female (Aged 18+ Years) Population, Canada *
Table 2.3: Adult Females Processed Through the Court System*, Regions *
Table 2.4: Adult Female (Aged 18+ Years) Population, Regions *
Table 3.1: Adult Females Processed Through Court*, by Most Serious Offence**, by Age***, Canada *
Table 3.2: Adult Female, by Age (18+ Years) Population, Canada *
Table 3.3: Adult Females Processed Through Court*, by Most Serious Offence**, by Age***, Regions *
Table 3.4: Adult Females (18+ Years) Population*, Regions *
Table 3.5: Mean Age of Adult Females (18+ Years) Population, Regions *
Table 4.1: Adult Females Charged by Police* for a Violent Offense, Canada *
Table 4.2: Total Adult Female (Aged 18+ Years) Population*, Canada *
Table 4.3: Adult Females Charged by Police* for a Violent Offense, Regions *
Table 4.4: Total Adult Female (Aged 18+ Years) Population*, Canada *
Table 4.5: Adult Females Processed Through The Court System* for a Violent Offense, Canada *
Table 4.6: Adult Female (Aged 18+ Years) Population*, Canada *
Table 5.1: Adult Female Disposition*, Canada *
Table 5.2: Percentage of Adult Female Disposition Per Total Adult Female Dispositions*, Canada *
Table 5.3: Adult Female Disposition*, Regions *
Chart 1.1A: Total Adult Females Charged by Police, Canada *
Chart 1.1B: Adult Females Charged by Police Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Canada *
Chart 1.1C: Adult Female Charged by Police by Offence Category Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Canada *
Chart 1.3A: Adult Females Charged by Police Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Regions *
Chart 2.1A: Adult Females Processed Through the Court System Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Canada *
Chart 2.1B: Adult Females Processed Through the Court System by Offense Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Canada *
Chart 2.3A: Adult Females Processed Through the Court System Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Regions *
Chart 3.1A: Adult Females Processed Through Court, by Most Serious Offense, by Age, Canada *
Chart 3.1B: Adult Females Processed Through Court, Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, by Most Serious Offense, by Age, Canada *
Chart 3.3A: Adult Females Processed Through Court, by Most Serious Offense, by Age, Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Atlantic Region *
Chart 3.3B: Adult Females Processed Through Court, by Most Serious Offense, by Age, Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Quebec Region *
Chart 3.3C: Adult Females Processed Through Court, by Most Serious Offense, by Age, Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Ontario Region *
Chart 3.3D: Adult Females Processed Through Court, by Most Serious Offense, by Age, Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Prairie Region *
Chart 3.3E: Adult Females Processed Through Court, by Most Serious Offense, by Age, Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Pacific Region *
Chart 4.1A: Total Adult Females Charged for a Violent Offense by Police Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Canada *
Chart 4.1B: Adult Females Charged for a Violent Offense by Police Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Canada *
Chart 4.4A: Adult Females Charged for a Violent Offense by Police Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Regions *
Chart 4.5A: Total Adult Female Processed Through The Court System For a Violent Offense Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Canada *
Chart 4.5B: Adult Females Processed Through the Court System For a Violent Offense Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Canada *
Chart 5.2A: Percentage of Adult Female Dispositions Per Total Adult Female Dispositions, Canada *
Chart 5.3A: Percentage of Adult Female Dispositions Per Total Adult Female Dispositions, Atlantic Region *
Chart 5.3B: Percentage of Adult Female Dispositions Per Total Adult Female Dispositions, Quebec Region *
Chart 5.3C: Percentage of Adult Female Dispositions Per Total Adult Female Dispositions, Ontario Region *
Chart 5.3D: Percentage of Adult Female Dispositions Per Total Adult Female Dispositions, Prairie Region *
Chart 5.3E: Percentage of Adult Female Dispositions Per Total Adult Youth Dispositions, Pacific Region *
QUESTION 1:
HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN ADULT FEMALES CHARGED BY THE POLICE?
QUESTION 2:
HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN ADULT FEMALES PROCESSED THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM?
QUESTION 3:
ARE ADULT FEMALES GETTING INVOLVED WITH CRIME AT A YOUNGER AGE?
QUESTION 4:
ARE ADULT FEMALES GETTING MORE VIOLENT?
QUESTION 5:
ARE ADULT FEMALES GETTING MORE SERIOUS DISPOSITIONS?
* Refer to Appendix A for definitions of data sources
** Refer to Appendix B for format of data presentation
HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN ADULT FEMALES CHARGED BY THE POLICE, 1992 - 1996?
Canada
- Overall there was a decrease. This is true both for adult females charged by police and the rate of adult females charged by police per 10,000 adult female population.
- By offense, one trend was a substantial decrease in property crimes from 1992 to 1994, followed by a gradual decrease to 1996.
- As well, there was a notable decrease in the category of other crimes from 1992 - 1994, with a very slight increase in 1995 followed by a decrease in 1996 to below the 1994 level.
Regions
- Overall, the rate substantially declined for the Prairie region. The greatest decrease was between 1993 and 1994.
- In the Ontario region there was a substantial trend decrease from 1992 - 1996.
- In the Atlantic region there was a slight increase from 1992 - 1993, followed by a notable decrease to 1995, and an increase in 1996 to below the 1992 rate.
- From 1992 to 1996, in the Pacific region there was a slight trend decrease, with an increase in 1994 and 1995 followed by a decrease in 1996.
- In the Quebec region there was a trend decrease from 1992 - 1996.
- The Prairie region had the highest rate per 10,000 adult female population, followed by the Ontario, Pacific, Atlantic and Quebec regions.
Table 1.1: Adult Females Charged by Police*, Canada
| 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | ||||||
| OFFENSE |
Actual Number |
Rate per** 10,000 |
Actual Number |
Rate per 10,000 |
Actual Number |
Rate per 10,000 |
Actual Number |
Rate per 10,000 |
Actual Number |
Rate per 10,000 |
|
Crimes of Violence |
14,287 |
13.1 |
14,706 |
13.2 |
15,284 |
13.5 |
14,325 |
12.5 |
14,258 |
12.3 |
| Property Crimes |
47,118 |
43.2 |
44,235 |
39.7 |
37,490 |
33.2 |
36,110 |
31.6 |
36,005 |
31.0 |
| Drugs*** |
5,860 |
5.4 |
5,631 |
5.1 |
5,442 |
4.8 |
5,143 |
4.5 |
5,213 |
4.5 |
| Other**** |
25,977 |
23.8 |
24,957 |
22.4 |
21,982 |
19.5 |
22,476 |
19.6 |
21,097 |
18.2 |
| TOTAL | 93,242 | 85.5 | 89,529 | 80.4 | 80,198 | 71.0 | 78,054 | 68.2 | 76,573 | 66.0 |
* Source: Uniform Crime Report
** Rate per 10,000 total adult female (aged 18+ years) population
*** Drugs = Narcotics Control Act & Food and Drugs Act
**** Other = Other Federal Statutes & Other Crime
***** Traffic offenses (Criminal Code Traffic and Impaired Driving) are excluded
Table 1.2: Total Adult Female (Aged 18+ Years) Population*, Canada
| TOTAL ADULT FEMALE POPULATION |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
|
10,909,400 |
11,132,900 |
11,282,700 |
11,440,419 |
11,602,559 |
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Branch, Demography Division.
Chart 1.1A: Total Adult Females Charged by Police, Canada
Chart 1.1B: Adult Females Charged by Police Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Canada
Table 1.3: Adult Females Charged by Police*, Regions
| 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | ||||||
| OFFENSE |
Actual |
Rate Per** |
Actual |
Rate Per |
Actual |
Rate Per |
Actual |
Rate Per |
Actual |
Rate Per |
|
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
|
| ATLANTIC | ||||||||||
| Crimes of Violence |
852 |
9.4 |
1,030 |
11.2 |
1,107 |
11.9 |
885 |
9.5 |
958 |
10.2 |
| Property Crimes |
3,588 |
39.7 |
3,599 |
39.2 |
2,973 |
32.0 |
2,688 |
28.8 |
2,989 |
31.9 |
| Drugs*** |
252 |
2.8 |
234 |
2.5 |
223 |
2.4 |
215 |
2.3 |
207 |
2.2 |
| Other**** |
1,336 |
14.8 |
1,372 |
14.9 |
1,306 |
14.1 |
877 |
9.4 |
1,150 |
12.3 |
| TOTAL |
6,028 |
66.7 |
6,235 |
67.9 |
5,609 |
60.5 |
4,665 |
50.1 |
5,304 |
56.5 |
| QUEBEC | ||||||||||
| Crimes of Violence |
2,275 |
8.1 |
2,221 |
7.84 |
2,328 |
8.1 |
2,106 |
7.3 |
2,029 |
6.9 |
| Property Crime |
8,524 |
30.4 |
8,220 |
29.0 |
6,872 |
24.0 |
6,269 |
21.7 |
6,588 |
22.6 |
| Drugs |
995 |
3.6 |
1,053 |
3.7 |
972 |
3.4 |
1,100 |
3.8 |
1,028 |
3.5 |
| Other |
4,667 |
16.7 |
4,533 |
16.0 |
3,907 |
13.7 |
4,285 |
14.8 |
4,151 |
14.2 |
| TOTAL |
16,461 |
58.9 |
16,027 |
56.6 |
14,079 |
49.2 |
13,760 |
47.6 |
13,796 |
47.3 |
| ONTARIO | ||||||||||
| Crimes of Violence |
6,255 |
15.2 |
5,739 |
13.7 |
6,121 |
14.4 |
5,749 |
13.3 |
5,223 |
11.9 |
| Property Crimes |
18,625 |
45.3 |
17,054 |
40.6 |
13,382 |
31.5 |
12,969 |
30.1 |
12,507 |
28.6 |
| Drugs |
2,387 |
5.8 |
2,371 |
5.6 |
2,211 |
5.2 |
1,948 |
4.5 |
2,057 |
4.7 |
| Other |
11,414 |
27.8 |
10,360 |
24.7 |
9,478 |
22.3 |
9,677 |
22.4 |
8,343 |
19.1 |
| TOTAL |
38,681 |
94.1 |
35,524 |
84.6 |
31,192 |
73.3 |
30,343 |
70.3 |
28,130 |
64.2 |
| PRAIRIE | ||||||||||
| Crimes of Violence |
3,475 |
19.8 |
4,068 |
22.7 |
3,848 |
21.3 |
3,700 |
20.2 |
3,983 |
21.5 |
| Property Crimes |
10,618 |
60.6 |
9,830 |
55.0 |
8,706 |
48.1 |
8,369 |
47.8 |
8,168 |
44.1 |
| Drugs |
924 |
5.3 |
1,026 |
5.7 |
907 |
5.0 |
814 |
4.5 |
851 |
4.6 |
| Other |
6,607 |
37.7 |
7,092 |
39.7 |
5,798 |
32.0 |
5,719 |
31.3 |
5,798 |
31.3 |
| TOTAL |
21,624 |
123.3 |
22,016 |
123.1 |
19,259 |
106.4 |
18,602 |
101.7 |
18,800 |
101.5 |
| PACIFIC | ||||||||||
| Crimes of Violence |
1,430 |
10.6 |
1,648 |
11.8 |
1,880 |
13.1 |
1,885 |
12.8 |
2,065 |
13.7 |
| Property Crimes |
5,763 |
42.9 |
5,532 |
39.6 |
5,557 |
38.7 |
5,815 |
39.5 |
5,753 |
38.0 |
| Drugs |
1,302 |
9.7 |
947 |
6.8 |
1,129 |
7.9 |
1,066 |
7.2 |
1,070 |
7.1 |
| Other |
1,953 |
14.5 |
1,600 |
11.5 |
1,493 |
10.4 |
1,918 |
13.0 |
1,655 |
10.9 |
| TOTAL |
10,448 |
77.7 |
9,727 |
69.7 |
10,059 |
70.1 |
10,684 |
72.5 |
10,543 |
69.7 |
| TOTAL |
93,242 |
85.5 |
89,529 |
80.4 |
80,198 |
71.1 |
78,054 |
68.2 |
76,573 |
66.0 |
* Source: Uniform Crime Report
** Rate per 10,000 total adult female (aged 18+ years) population
*** Drugs = Narcotics Control Act & Food and Drugs Act
**** Other = Other Federal Statutes & Other Crimes
***** Traffic Offenses (Criminal Code Traffic and Impaired Driving) are excluded
****** Figures may not add to totals due to rounding
Table 1.4: Total Adult Female (Aged 18+ Years) Population*, Regions
| TOTAL ADULT FEMALE | |||||
| POPULATION |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
| Atlantic |
904,100 |
918,200 |
926,800 |
931,535 |
938,357 |
| Quebec |
2,796,500 |
2,832,400 |
2,860,100 |
2,891,911 |
2,919,695 |
| Ontario |
4,112,200 |
4,198,000 |
4,251,600 |
4,314,883 |
4,379,447 |
| Prairie |
1,753,400 |
1,788,600 |
1,809,300 |
1,828,679 |
1,852,448 |
| Pacific |
1,343,200 |
1,395,700 |
1,434,900 |
1,473,441 |
1,512,612 |
| TOTAL |
10,909,400 |
11,132,900 |
11,282,700 |
11,440,419 |
11,602,559 |
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Division, Demography Division
Chart 1.3A: Adult Females Charged by Police Per 10,000 Adult Female Population, Regions
HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN ADULT FEMALES PROCESSED THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, 1994/95 - 1996/97?
Canada
- Overall there has been a slight decrease.
- By offense, an apparent trend was a decrease in property crimes from 1994/95 to 1996/97.
- Violent, drug and other crimes decreased slightly from 1994/95 to 1996/97.
Regions
- There is a notable increase in the Atlantic region and a slight increase in the Pacific region from 1994/95 to 1996/97. The Ontario region decreased and the Prairie and Quebec regions slightly decreased from 1994/95 to 1996/97.
- The Prairie region had the highest rate per 10,000 adult female population, followed by the Ontario, Atlantic, Quebec and Pacific regions.
Table 2.1: Adult Females Processed Through the Court System*, Canada
(The Canada total does not include British Columbia, Manitoba and New Brunswick for 1994/95 and 1995/96 and the Northwest Territories for 1996/97)
| 1994 / 1995 | 1995 / 1996 | 1996 / 1997 | ||||
|
Actual |
Rate Per** |
Actual |
Rate Per |
Actual |
Rate Per |
|
| OFFENSE |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
| Crimes of Violence |
9,926 |
10.9 |
9,960 |
10.8 |
9,619 |
10.3 |
| Property Crimes |
24,916 |
27.3 |
23,968 |
25.9 |
22,825 |
24.4 |
| Drugs*** |
3,864 |
4.2 |
3,640 |
3.9 |
3,492 |
3.7 |
| Other**** |
19,070 |
20.9 |
19,143 |
20.7 |
18,485 |
19.8 |
| TOTAL |
57,776 |
63.3 |
56,771 |
61.3 |
54,421 |
58.2 |
* Source: Adult Criminal Court Survey
** Rate per 10,000 total adult female (aged 18+ years) population
*** Drugs = Drug Related Offenses
**** Other = Other Federal Statutes & Other Criminal Code Violations
***** Traffic offenses (Criminal Code Traffic and Impaired Driving) are excluded
Table 2.2: Adult Female (Aged 18+ Years) Population, Canada
(The Canada total does not include British Columbia, Manitoba & New Brunswick for 1994 and 1995 and the Northwest Territories for 1996)
| TOTAL ADULT | |||
| FEMALE | |||
| POPULATION |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
|
9,136,600 |
9,251,987 |
9,349,977 |
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Branch, Demography Division
** 1994, 1995 and 1996 calendar year population statistics are used for the 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97 fiscal year
Adult Criminal Court Survey data
Table 2.3: Adult Females Processed Through the Court System*, Regions
(The regional totals do not include British Columbia in the Pacific region, Manitoba in the Prairie region and New Brunswick in the Atlantic region for 1994/95 and 1995/96 and the Northwest Territories in the Prairie region for 1996/97)
| 1994 / 1995 | 1995 / 1996 | 1996 / 1997 | ||||
|
Actual |
Rate Per** |
Actual |
Rate Per |
Actual |
Rate Per |
|
|
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
|
| ATLANTIC | ||||||
| Crimes of Violence |
482 |
7.6 |
654 |
10.3 |
690 |
10.8 |
| Property Crimes |
1,472 |
23.3 |
1,729 |
27.2 |
1,790 |
28.0 |
| Drugs*** |
141 |
2.2 |
173 |
2.7 |
136 |
2.1 |
| Other **** |
849 |
13.4 |
1,081 |
17.0 |
1,077 |
16.8 |
| Atlantic - Total |
2,944 |
46.5 |
3,637 |
57.2 |
3,693 |
57.7 |
| QUEBEC | ||||||
| Crimes of Violence |
885 |
3.0 |
954 |
3.3 |
899 |
3.1 |
| Property Crimes |
2,483 |
8.7 |
1,945 |
6.7 |
1,841 |
6.3 |
| Drugs |
620 |
2.2 |
732 |
2.5 |
772 |
2.6 |
| Other |
2,126 |
7.4 |
2,320 |
8.0 |
2,185 |
7.5 |
| Quebec - Total |
6,114 |
21.3 |
5,951 |
20.6 |
5,697 |
19.5 |
| ONTARIO | ||||||
| Crimes of Violence |
6,319 |
14.9 |
6,061 |
14.0 |
5,659 |
12.9 |
| Property Crimes |
13,881 |
32.6 |
13,540 |
31.4 |
12,897 |
29.4 |
| Drugs |
2,291 |
5.4 |
2,083 |
4.8 |
1,948 |
4.4 |
| Other |
12,206 |
28.7 |
11,629 |
27.0 |
11,089 |
25.3 |
| Ontario - Total |
34,697 |
81.6 |
33,313 |
77.2 |
31,593 |
72.1 |
| PRAIRIE | ||||||
| Crimes of Violence |
2,205 |
16.0 |
2,232 |
16.0 |
2,319 |
16.6 |
| Property Crimes |
7,032 |
50.9 |
6,694 |
47.9 |
6,233 |
44.5 |
| Drugs |
801 |
5.8 |
631 |
4.5 |
623 |
4.5 |
| Other |
3,830 |
27.7 |
4,026 |
28.8 |
4,077 |
29.1 |
| Prairie - Total |
13,868 |
99.9 |
13,583 |
97.1 |
13,252 |
94.7 |
| PACIFIC***** | ||||||
| Crimes of Violence |
35 |
3.4 |
59 |
5.6 |
52 |
4.7 |
| Property Crimes |
48 |
4.7 |
60 |
5.7 |
64 |
5.8 |
| Drugs |
11 |
1.2 |
21 |
2.0 |
13 |
1.2 |
| Other |
59 |
5.7 |
87 |
8.2 |
57 |
5.2 |
| Pacific - Total |
153 |
14.9 |
227 |
21.4 |
186 |
16.9 |
| TOTAL |
57,776 |
63.3 |
56,711 |
61.3 |
54,421 |
58.2 |
* Source: Adult Criminal Court Survey
** Rate per 10,000 total adult female (aged 18+ years) population
*** Drugs = Narcotics Control Act & Food and Drugs Act
**** Other = Other Federal Statutes & Other Crime
***** To accommodate for charting, rate per 1,000 total adult female (aged 18+ years) population
****** Traffic offenses (Criminal Code Traffic and Impaired Driving) are excluded
******* Figures may not add to totals due to rounding
Table 2.4: Adult Female (Aged 18+ Years) Population, Regions
(The regional totals do not include British Columbia in the Pacific region, Manitoba in the Prairie region and New Brunswick in the Atlantic region for 1994/95 and 1995/96 and the Northwest Territories in the Prairie Region for 1996/97)
| TOTAL ADULT FEMALE | |||
| POPULATION |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
| Atlantic |
632,800 |
635,913 |
640,370 |
| Quebec |
2,860,000 |
2,891,911 |
2,919,695 |
| Ontario |
4,251,600 |
4,314,883 |
4,379,447 |
| Prairie |
1,381,900 |
1,398,674 |
1,399,440 |
| Pacific
TOTAL |
10,300 9,136,600 |
10,606 9,251,987 |
11,025 9,349,977 |
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Branch, Demography Division
** 1994, 1995 and 1996 calendar year population statistics are used for the 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97 fiscal year Adult Criminal Court
Survey data
ARE ADULT FEMALES GETTING INVOLVED WITH CRIME AT A YOUNGER AGE?
Canada
- Overall it appears females are not getting involved with crime at a younger age. This is true both for adult females charged by police and the rate of adult females charged by police per 10,000 adult female population.
- A mean age of 32 remained the same from 1994/95 to 1996/97.
Regions
Examining total rates of adult females processed through court, by principle charge and age, the following is characteristic of each region:
- Atlantic Region:A steady trend with the lower the age the greater the rate of adult females processed through the court system.
- Quebec Region:A steady trend for 1994/95 and 1995/96 with the lower the age the greater the rate of adult females processed through the court system.
- Ontario Region: A steady trend with the lower the age the greater the rate of adult females processed through the court system.
- Prairie Region: A steady trend with the lower the age the greater the rate of adult females processed through the court system.
- Pacific Region: A steady trend with the lower the age the greater the rate of adult females processed through the court system.
Table 3.1: Adult Females Processed Through Court*, by Most Serious Offence**, by Age***, Canada
(The Canada total does not include British Columbia, Manitoba and New Brunswick for 1994/95 and 1995/96 and Northwest Territories for 1996/97)
| OFFENSE |
18-24 |
25-34 |
35-44 |
45-54 |
55+ |
Unknown |
| 1994/1995 | ||||||
| Crimes of Violence |
2,495 |
3,500 |
1,934 |
631 |
206 |
1,160 |
| Property Crimes |
6,716 |
8,359 |
5,364 |
2,258 |
1,385 |
834 |
| Other Crimes**** |
4,412 |
6,059 |
2,843 |
714 |
249 |
1,550 |
| Drugs***** |
1,048 |
1,627 |
741 |
123 |
47 |
278 |
| Other Federal Statutes |
707 |
1,008 |
724 |
436 |
175 |
193 |
| 1994/1995 TOTAL |
15,378 |
20,553 |
11,606 |
4,162 |
2,062 |
4,015 |
| Per 10,000 Adult Females |
135.8 |
102.3 |
59.7 |
29.2 |
7.8 |
|
| 1995/1996 | ||||||
| Crimes of Violence |
2,498 |
3,533 |
2,058 |
566 |
244 |
1,061 |
| Property Crimes |
6,408 |
7,800 |
5,337 |
2,221 |
1,348 |
854 |
| Other Crimes |
4,181 |
6,118 |
3,122 |
810 |
255 |
1,628 |
| Drugs |
1,070 |
1,418 |
744 |
145 |
43 |
220 |
| Other Federal Statutes |
716 |
859 |
649 |
413 |
193 |
199 |
| 1995/1996 TOTAL |
14,873 |
19,728 |
11,910 |
4,155 |
2,083 |
3,962 |
| Per 10,000 Adult Females |
132.3 |
99.8 |
59.8 |
28.0 |
7.8 |
|
| 1996/1997 | ||||||
| Crimes of Violence |
2,465 |
3,420 |
2,046 |
620 |
215 |
853 |
| Property Crimes |
6,202 |
7,483 |
5,134 |
2,009 |
1,285 |
712 |
| Other Crimes |
4,034 |
5,870 |
3,122 |
873 |
247 |
1,657 |
| Drugs |
1,035 |
1,334 |
758 |
157 |
40 |
168 |
| Other Federal Statutes |
584 |
842 |
652 |
328 |
133 |
143 |
| 1996/1997 TOTAL |
14,320 |
18,949 |
11,712 |
3,987 |
1,920 |
3,533 |
| Per 10,000 Adult Females | 128.6 | 97.8 | 57.5 | 25.8 | 7.1 | |
| TOTAL | 44,570 | 59,230 | 35,228 | 12,304 | 6,065 | 11,510 |
* Source: Adult Criminal Court Survey
** By most serious offense: The most serious offense rule is applied when a case involves more than one charge. The rule is: all charges in
a case are ranked according to an offense severity scale. If two or more charges have equal severity, sentence type information is
considered. If a tie occurs at the level of sentence type, sentence magnitude information is considered.
*** Age at the time the most significant charge was committed
**** Other = Other Federal Statutes & Other Crime
***** Drugs = Narcotics Control Act & Food and Drugs Act
****** Rate per 10,000 total adult female (aged 18+ years) population
******* Traffic offenses (Criminal Code and Impaired Driving) are excluded
******** - is nil or zero
Table 3.2: Adult Female, by Age (18+ Years) Population, Canada
(The Canada total does not include British Columbia, Manitoba and New Brunswick for 1994 and 1995 and Northwest Territories for 1996)
| Adult | |||||
| Population |
18-24 |
25-34 |
35-44 |
45-54 |
55+ |
| 1994 |
1,132,000 |
2,009,800 |
1,942,500 |
1,423,000 |
2,629,300 |
| 1995 |
1,124,482 |
1,975,971 |
1,991,346 |
1,485,782 |
2,674,406 |
| 1996 |
1,113,274 |
1,936,621 |
2,035,579 |
1,542,716 |
2,721,787 |
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Branch, Demography Division
** 1994, 1995 and 1996 calendar year population statistics are used for the 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97 fiscal year Adult Criminal Court
Survey data
Chart 3.1A: Adult Females Processed Through Court, by Most Serious Offense, by Age, Canada
|
1994/95 |
1995/96 |
1996/97 |
|
|
MEAN AGE |
32 |
32 |
32 |
Table 3.3: Adult Females Processed Through Court*, by Most Serious Offence**, by Age***, Regions
(The regional totals do not include British Columbia, Manitoba and New Brunswick for 1994/95 and 1995/96and Northwest Territories for 1996/97)
OFFENSE |
18-24 |
25-34 |
35-44 |
45-54 |
55+ |
Unknown |
|
ATLANTIC |
||||||
| 1994 / 1995
Per 10,000 A.F. |
850 96.4 |
995 73.3 |
565 42.5 |
245 25.1 |
107 6.0 |
178 |
| 1995 / 1996 |
1,020 |
1,127 |
810 |
314 |
132 |
234 |
| Per 10,000 A.F. |
118.5 |
85.2 |
60.0 |
30.9 |
7.3 |
|
| 1996 / 1997
Per 10,000 A.F. |
1,058 126.4 |
1,202 92.6 |
780 56.9 |
308 28.9 |
130 7.1 |
234 |
| QUEBEC | ||||||
| 1994 / 1995
Per 10,000 A.F. |
1,429 43.4 |
2,259 37.6 |
1,359 22.0 |
576 12.2 |
244 2.9 |
247 |
| 1995 / 1996 |
1,326 |
2,179 |
1,385 |
503 |
207 |
351 |
| Per 10,000 A.F.
1996 / 1997 |
40.0 1,286 |
37.1 2,096 |
22.0 1,331 |
10.3 513 |
2.4 198 |
293 |
| Per 10,000 A.F. |
38.1 |
36.8 |
20.8 |
10.1 |
2.3 |
|
| ONTARIO | ||||||
| 1994 / 1995
Per 10,000 A.F. |
8,620 163.8 |
12,217 128.5 |
6,883 77.9 |
2,435 37.2 |
1,212 18.5 |
3,330 |
| 1995 / 1996 |
8,058 |
11,504 |
6,932 |
2,403 |
1,297 |
3,122 |
| Per 10,000 A.F.
1996 / 1997 |
155.0 7,689 |
122.1 10,808 |
76.3 6,711 |
35.1 2,370 |
10.3 1,213 |
2,802 |
| Per 10,000 A.F. |
149.7 |
115.7 |
71.7 |
33.3 |
9.5 |
|
| PRAIRIE | ||||||
| 1994 / 1995
Per 10,000 A.F. |
4,423 237.1 |
5,031 157.5 |
2,777 90.8 |
901 45.1 |
493 13.3 |
248 |
| 1995 / 1996 |
4,395 |
4,943 |
2,743 |
921 |
445 |
236 |
| Per 10,000 A.F.
1996 / 1997 |
236.0 4,238 |
158.5 4,774 |
87.0 2,863 |
44.1 808 |
12.5 375 |
194 |
| Per 10,000 A.F. |
232.0 |
159.1 |
89.6 |
37.5 |
9.8 |
|
| PACIFIC | ||||||
| 1994 / 1995
Per 10,000 A.F. |
56 400 |
51 175.9 |
22 75.9 |
6 46.2 |
6 46.2 |
12 |
| 1995 / 1996 |
74 |
75 |
40 |
14 |
2 |
19 |
| Per 10,000 A.F.
1996 / 1997 Per 10,000 A.F. |
518.6 69 451.6 |
262.6 69 240.3 |
132.0 27 85.6 |
72.1 8 37.9 |
14.7 4 29.4 |
10 |
* Source: Adult Criminal Court Survey
** By most serious offense: The most serious offense rule is applied when a case involves more than one charge. The rule is: all charges in
a case are ranked according to an offense severity scale. If two or more charges have equal severity, sentence type information is
considered. If a tie occurs at the level of sentence type, sentence magnitude information is considered.
*** Age at the time the most significant charge was committed
**** A. F. = Adult females
***** Traffic offenses (Criminal Code Traffic and Impaired Driving) are excluded
****** - is nil or zero
******* Figures may not add to totals due to rounding
Table 3.4: Adult Females (18+ Years) Population*, Regions
(The regional totals do not include British Columbia in the Pacific region, Manitoba in the Prairie region and New Brunswick in the Atlantic region for 1994 and 1995 and Northwest Territories in the Prairie region for 1996)
| TOTAL ADULT FEMALE
POPULATION |
18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-54 | 55+ |
| Atlantic | |||||
| 1994 | 88,200 | 135,700 | 133,000 | 97,400 | 178,500 |
| 1995 | 86,102 | 132,295 | 135,071 | 101,803 | 180,642 |
| 1996 | 83,701 | 129,853 | 137,156 | 106,405 | 183,255 |
| Quebec | |||||
| 1994 | 329,600 | 601,200 | 617,200 | 470,500 | 841,500 |
| 1995 | 331,135 | 586,354 | 629,236 | 489,098 | 856,088 |
| 1996 | 331,933 | 569,484 | 639,097 | 505,924 | 873,257 |
| Ontario | |||||
| 1994 | 526,200 | 950,500 | 883,500 | 653,800 | 1,237,600 |
| 1995 | 519,573 | 942,541 | 908,951 | 683,868 | 1,259,950 |
| 1996 | 513,539 | 934,419 | 936,491 | 712,402 | 1,282,596 |
| Prairie | |||||
| 1994 | 186,600 | 319,500 | 305,800 | 199,600 | 370,400 |
| 1995 | 186,245 | 311,925 | 315,058 | 209,070 | 356,376 |
| 1996 | 182,573 | 299,994 | 319,680 | 215,875 | 381,318 |
| Pacific | |||||
| 1994 | 1,400 | 2,900 | 2,900 | 1,800 | 1,300 |
| 1995 | 1,427 | 2,856 | 3,030 | 1,943 | 1,350 |
| 1996 | 1,528 | 2,871 | 3,155 | 2,110 | 1,361 |
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Division
** The 1994, 1995 and 1996 calendar year statistics are used for the 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97 fiscal year Adult
Criminal Court Survey
Table 3.5: Mean Age of Adult Females (18+ Years) Population, Regions
(The regional totals do not include British Columbia in the Pacific region, Manitoba in the Prairie region and New Brunswick in the Atlantic region for 1994 and 1995 and Northwest Territories in the Prairie region for 1996)
|
1994 / 95 |
1995 / 96 |
1996 / 97 |
|
Atlantic |
33 |
34 |
32 |
| Quebec |
33 |
33 |
33 |
| Ontario |
32 |
33 |
33 |
| Prairie |
31 |
30 |
31 |
| Pacific |
31 |
31 |
31 |
* Source: Adult Criminal Court Survey
ARE ADULT FEMALES GETTING MORE VIOLENT?
Canada
Uniform Crime Report:
- Overall, there was a slight trend decrease. However, from 1992 to 1994, there was a slight increase with a return in 1996 to a rate below the 1992 level. Since 1992, the national rate of violent crime among adult females has remained between 12 and 13 per 10,000.
- By offense, there was a steady rate of homicide, decreasing slightly from 1992 to 1996.
- There was a steady rate of attempted murder, decreasing slightly from 1992 - 1996.
- There was a slight decrease in the rate of sexual assault and other sexual offenses, with the greatest decrease from 1994 - 1995.
- There was a decrease in the rate of non-sexual assault, with an increase from
1992 - 1994 followed by a decrease to slightly below the 1992 level in 1996.
- There was a slight decrease in the rate of abduction from 1992 - 1996, with slight increases in 1994 and 1996, however, the 1992 rate was still the highest.
- There was a decrease in robbery from 1992 - 1995, with an increase in 1996 but still below the 1992 rate.
- The highest rate of charges for a violent offense occurred in the order of non-sexual assault, robbery, sexual assault and other sexual offenses, and very similar rates for attempted murder, abduction and homicide.
Adult Criminal Court Survey:
- From 1995/95 to 1996/97 there was a decrease in the number of adult females processed through the adult court system for a violent offense per 10,000 adult female population.
- There was relative stability in the 3 year period for the rate of homicide, attempted murder, abduction and kidnapping. Sexual assault and other sexual offenses decreased from 1994/95 to 1996/97. Major assault and common assault remained stable from 1994/95 to 1995/96 and decreased slightly in 1996/97. Robbery decreased from 1994/95 to 1995/96 and increased in 1996/97 to slightly above the 1994/95 rate.
Regions
Uniform Crime Report
- Overall, there is no major regional trend of either an increase or decrease in adult females charged by police for violent offenses.
- Regional variation: The Atlantic region increased from 1992 - 1994 and returned in 1996 to slightly above the 1992 level. The Quebec region remained relatively stable, decreasing slightly from 1992 - 1996, with a slight increase in 1994. The Ontario region decreased from 1992 - 1996. The Prairie region increased from 1992 - 1993, declined from 1993 - 1995 and increased in 1995 - 1996 to above the 1992 level. The Pacific region increased from 1992 - 1996.
- The Prairie region had the highest rate per 10,000 adult female population, followed by the Ontario, Pacific, Atlantic and Quebec regions.
Table 4.1: Adult Females Charged by Police* for a Violent Offense, Canada
| 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | ||||||
|
Actual |
Rate per** |
Actual |
Rate per |
Actual |
Rate per |
Actual |
Rate per |
Actual |
Rate per |
|
| OFFENSE |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
| Homicide |
68 |
.06 |
72 |
.06 |
61 |
.05 |
62 |
.05 |
56 |
.05 |
| Attempted Murder |
98 |
.09 |
99 |
.09 |
79 |
.07 |
75 |
.07 |
65 |
.06 |
| Sexual Assault & |
233 |
.21 |
239 |
.21 |
229 |
.20 |
194 |
.17 |
180 |
.16 |
| Other Sexual Offenses*** | ||||||||||
| Non-Sexual Assault |
13,089 |
1.2 |
13,580 |
1.2 |
14,260 |
1.3 |
13,365 |
1.2 |
13,247 |
1.1 |
| **** | ||||||||||
| Abduction |
89 |
.08 |
77 |
.07 |
94 |
.08 |
59 |
.05 |
73 |
.06 |
| Robbery |
710 |
.65 |
639 |
.57 |
561 |
.50 |
570 |
.50 |
637 |
.55 |
| TOTAL |
14,287 |
13.1 |
14,706 |
13.2 |
15,284 |
13.5 |
14,325 |
12.5 |
14,258 |
12.3 |
* Source: Uniform Crime Report
** Rate per 10,000 total adult female (aged 18+ years) population
*** There may be a difference in the 1996 definition in comparison to the prior year because 1996 does not include the category of
Rape/Indecent Assault, however, it is anticipated to be negligible
**** To accommodate for charting, rate per 1,000 total adult females (aged 18+ years) population
***** Traffic offenses (Criminal Code Traffic and Impaired Driving) are excluded
Table 4.2: Total Adult Female (Aged 18+ Years) Population*, Canada
| TOTAL ADULT | ||||||||||
| FEMALE | ||||||||||
| POPULATION |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
|||||
|
10,909,400 |
11,132,900 |
11,282,700 |
11,440,419 |
11,602,559 |
||||||
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Branch, Demography Division
Table 4.3: Adult Females Charged by Police* for a Violent Offense, Regions
| 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | ||||||
|
Actual |
Rate per** |
Actual |
Rate per |
Actual |
Rate per |
Actual |
Rate per |
Actual |
Rate Per |
|
| OFFENSE |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
| ATLANTIC | ||||||||||
| Homicide |
4 |
.04 |
8 |
.09 |
7 |
.08 |
3 |
.03 |
1 |
.01 |
| Attempted Murder |
2 |
.02 |
5 |
.05 |
3 |
.03 |
4 |
.04 |
3 |
.03 |
| Sexual Assault & | ||||||||||
| Other Sexual Ofenses |
26 |
.29 |
27 |
.29 |
24 |
.26 |
30 |
.32 |
18 |
.19 |
| Non-Sexual Assault |
799 |
8.8 |
970 |
10.6 |
1,047 |
11.3 |
833 |
8.9 |
916 |
9.8 |
| Abduction |
4 |
.04 |
2 |
.02 |
5 |
.05 |
2 |
.02 |
5 |
.05 |
| Robbery |
17 |
.19 |
18 |
.20 |
21 |
.23 |
13 |
.14 |
15 |
.16 |
| TOTAL |
852 |
9.4 |
1,030 |
11.2 |
1,107 |
11.9 |
885 |
9.5 |
958 |
10.2 |
| QUEBEC | ||||||||||
| Homicide |
15 |
.05 |
3 |
.01 |
11 |
.04 |
15 |
.05 |
8 |
.03 |
| Attempted Murder |
27 |
.10 |
35 |
.12 |
22 |
.08 |
14 |
.05 |
17 |
.06 |
| Sexual Assault & | ||||||||||
| Other Sexual Offenses |
48 |
.17 |
33 |
.11 |
40 |
.14 |
28 |
.10 |
20 |
.07 |
| Non-Sexual Assault |
1,988 |
7.1 |
1,978 |
7.0 |
2,141 |
7.5 |
1,910 |
6.6 |
1,841 |
6.3 |
| Abduction |
16 |
.06 |
6 |
.02 |
8 |
.03 |
13 |
.04 |
15 |
.05 |
| Robbery |
181 |
.65 |
166 |
.59 |
106 |
.37 |
126 |
.44 |
128 |
.43 |
| TOTAL |
2,275 |
8.1 |
2,221 |
7.8 |
2,328 |
8.1 |
2,107 |
7.2 |
2,029 |
6.9 |
| ONTARIO | ||||||||||
| Homicide |
21 |
.05 |
28 |
.07 |
15 |
.04 |
23 |
.05 |
22 |
.05 |
| Attempted Murder |
26 |
.06 |
24 |
.06 |
26 |
.06 |
26 |
.06 |
18 |
.04 |
| Sexual Assault & | ||||||||||
| Other Sexual Offenses |
70 |
.17 |
70 |
.17 |
77 |
.18 |
55 |
.13 |
67 |
.15 |
| Non-Sexual Assault |
5,881 |
14.3 |
5,375 |
12.8 |
5,806 |
13.6 |
5,447 |
12.7 |
4,917 |
11.2 |
| Abduction |
29 |
.07 |
35 |
.08 |
22 |
.05 |
17 |
.04 |
22 |
.05 |
| Robbery |
228 |
.55 |
207 |
.49 |
178 |
.42 |
180 |
.42 |
177 |
.40 |
| TOTAL |
6,255 |
15.2 |
5,739 |
13.7 |
6,121 |
14.4 |
5,748 |
13.3 |
5,223 |
11.9 |
| PRAIRIE | ||||||||||
| Homicide |
20 |
.11 |
18 |
.10 |
14 |
.08 |
9 |
.05 |
20 |
.11 |
| Attempted Murder |
31 |
.18 |
24 |
.12 |
19 |
.11 |
24 |
.13 |
15 |
.08 |
| Sexual Assault & | ||||||||||
| Other Sexual Offenses |
61 |
.35 |
71 |
.40 |
56 |
.31 |
44 |
.24 |
39 |
.21 |
| Non-Sexual Assault |
3,144 |
17.9 |
3,768 |
21.0 |
3,562 |
19.7 |
3,460 |
18.9 |
3,700 |
20.0 |
| Abduction |
33 |
.19 |
26 |
.15 |
43 |
.24 |
17 |
.09 |
22 |
.12 |
| Robbery |
186 |
1.1 |
161 |
.90 |
151 |
.83 |
146 |
.80 |
187 |
1.1 |
| TOTAL |
3,475 |
19.8 |
4,068 |
22.7 |
3,845 |
21.3 |
3,700 |
20.2 |
3,983 |
21.5 |
| PACIFIC | ||||||||||
| Homicide |
8 |
.06 |
15 |
.11 |
14 |
.10 |
12 |
.08 |
5 |
.03 |
| Attempted Murder |
12 |
.09 |
11 |
.08 |
9 |
.06 |
7 |
.05 |
12 |
.08 |
| Sexual Assault & | ||||||||||
| Other Sexual Offenses |
28 |
.21 |
38 |
.27 |
32 |
.22 |
37 |
.25 |
36 |
.24 |
| Non-Sexual Assault |
1,277 |
9.5 |
1,489 |
10.7 |
1,704 |
11.9 |
1,714 |
11.6 |
1,873 |
12.4 |
| Abduction |
7 |
.05 |
8 |
.06 |
16 |
.11 |
10 |
.07 |
9 |
.06 |
| Robbery |
98 |
.72 |
87 |
.62 |
105 |
.73 |
105 |
.71 |
130 |
.86 |
| TOTAL |
1,430 |
10.7 |
1,648 |
11.8 |
1,880 |
13.1 |
1,885 |
12.8 |
2,065 |
13.7 |
| TOTAL |
14,287 |
13.1 |
14,706 |
13.2 |
15,284 |
13.5 |
14,325 |
12.5 |
14,258 |
12.3 |
* Source: Uniform Crime Report
** Rate per 10,000 adult female (aged 18+ years) population
*** - is nil or zero
**** Figures may not add to totals due to rounding
Table 4.4: Total Adult Female (Aged 18+ Years) Population*, Canada
| TOTAL ADULT FEMALE | |||||
| POPULATION |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
| Atlantic |
904,100 |
918,200 |
926,800 |
931,535 |
938,357 |
| Quebec |
2,796,500 |
2,832,400 |
2,860,100 |
2,891,911 |
2,919,695 |
| Ontario |
4,112,200 |
4,198,000 |
4,251,600 |
4,314,883 |
4,379,447 |
| Prairie |
1,753,400 |
1,788,600 |
1,809,300 |
1,828,679 |
1,852,448 |
| Pacific |
1,343,200 |
1,395,700 |
1,434,900 |
1,473,441 |
1,512,612 |
| TOTAL | 10,909,400 | 11,132,900 | 11,282,700 | 11,440,419 | 11,602,559 |
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Division, Demography Division
Table 4.5: Adult Females Processed Through The Court System* for a Violent Offense, Canada
(The Canada total does not include British Columbia, Manitoba and New Brunswick for 1994/95 and 1995/96 and the Northwest Territories for 1996/97)
| 1994 / 1995 | 1995 / 1996 | 1996 / 1997 | ||||
|
Actual |
Rate per** |
Actual |
Rate per |
Actual |
Rate per |
|
| OFFENSE |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
| Homicide & Related*** |
41 |
.04 |
54 |
.06 |
44 |
.05 |
| Attempted Murder |
33 |
.04 |
36 |
.04 |
42 |
.05 |
| Sexual Assault & | ||||||
| Other Sexual Offenses |
135 |
.15 |
109 |
.12 |
93 |
.10 |
| Major Assault & Common Assault**** |
9,318 |
1.02 |
9,410 |
1.02 |
9,041 |
.97 |
| Abduction |
59 |
.06 |
44 |
.05 |
48 |
.05 |
| Kidnapping |
16 |
.02 |
17 |
.02 |
17 |
.02 |
| Robbery |
324 |
.35 |
290 |
.31 |
334 |
.36 |
| TOTAL |
9,926 |
10.9 |
9,960 |
10.8 |
9,619 |
10.3 |
* Source: Adult Criminal Court Survey
** Rate per 10,000 total adult females (aged 18+ years) population
*** Offense categorizations are comprised of the following offenses:
Homicide and Related: First degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter, infanticide; Attempted Murder: Attempted
murder; Sexual Assault and Other Sexual Offenses: Aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, causing bodily harm,
threats to a third party, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, sexual exploitation, incest, bestiality; Major Assault and
Common Assault: Aggravated assault (level 3), assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm (level 2), discharging firearm with intent,
unlawfully causing bodily harm, assault against a police/peace officer, assault level 1; Abduction: Abduction of a person under 16,
abduction of a person under 14, abduction in contravention of a custody order, abduction where no custody order; Kidnapping:
Kidnapping, forcible confinement, hostage taking; Robbery: Robbery with firearms, with other offensive weapons, other robbery.
Note: Due to possible difference in the definitions of violent crimes, based on the Uniform Crime Report Survey and the Adult Criminal
Court Survey used in this report, the enclosed tables and charts should be compared on a general level.
**** To accommodate for charting, rate per 1,000 total adult female (aged 18+ years) population
Table 4.6: Adult Female (Aged 18+ Years) Population*, Canada
(The Canada total does not include British Columbia, Manitoba and New Brunswick for 1994 and 1995 and the Northwest Territories for 1996)
| TOTAL FEMALE ADULT | |||
| POPULATION |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
|
9,136,600 |
9,251,987 |
9,349,977 |
|
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Branch, Demography Division
** 1994, 1995 and 1996 calendar year population statistics are used for the 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97 fiscal year Adult Criminal Court
Survey Data
ARE ADULT FEMALES GETTING MORE SERIOUS DISPOSITIONS*?
Canada
- For the most serious disposition, prison, there was a slight decrease from 1994/95 to 1996/97. The second most serious disposition, probation, remained steady from 1994/95 to 1995/96 and increased notably in 1996/97. Fine decreased notably from 1994/95 to 1995/96 and remained at the 1995/96 level in 1996/97. Restitution declined from 1994/95 to 1995/96 and increased in 1996/97 to slightly above the 1994/95 level. Other remained steady from 1994/95 to 1995/96 and increased notably in 1996/97. Unknown increased from 1994/95 to 1995/96 and declined notably in 1996/97.
Regions
- Examining percentage of adult female dispositions per total adult female disposition, the following appeared for each region:
Atlantic Region:A slight increase in prison between 1994/95 and 1996/97 and a notable increase in probation. A notable decrease in fine and other and a decrease in restitution.
Quebec Region:Relative stability in prison with an increase in 1995/96 followed by a return in 1996/97 to slightly above the 1994/95 rate. Increase in probation and a slight increase in other. Decrease in fine and restitution.
Ontario Region:A slight decrease in prison and a decrease in fine. Slight increase in restitution from 1994/95 to 1996/97, noting a slight decrease in 1995/96. A notable increase in other and probation, with a slight decrease in 1995/96 followed by a dramatic increase in 1996/97.
Prairie Region:Relative stability in prison from 1994/95 to 1996/97. An increase in other and probation and a very slight increase in restitution. A decrease in fine.
Pacific Region:A significant decrease in prison and fine and a significant increase in probation and other from 1994/95 to 1996/97.
Order of greatest frequency of dispositions per region:
Atlantic Region: Fine, Probation, Prison, Other, Restitution
Quebec Region: Probation, Fine, Prison, Other, Restitution
Ontario Region: Probation, Prison, Fine, Other, Restitution
Prairie Region: Fine, Probation, Prison, Other, Restitution
Pacific Region: Probation, Fine, Prison, Other, Restitution
Table 5.1: Adult Female Disposition*, Canada
(The Canada total does not include British Columbia, Manitoba and New Brunswick for 1994/95 and 1995/96 and Northwest Territories for 1996/97)
| DISPOSITION** |
1994/1995 |
1995/1996 |
1996/1997 |
| Prison |
8,187 |
7,865 |
7,613 |
| Probation |
12,080 |
11,964 |
13,008 |
| Fine |
13,319 |
12,074 |
11,524 |
| Restitution |
31 |
20 |
34 |
| Other*** |
1,001 |
982 |
1,720 |
| Unknown |
1,440 |
2,105 |
484 |
| TOTAL |
36,058 |
35,010 |
34,383 |
* Source: Adult Criminal Court Survey
** Disposition is the most serious disposition for a person or a case. When there is more than one charge the following rule applies: Dispositions are ordered
from most to least serious: 1) Found guilty; 2) Transfer to Superior Court; 3) Other (acquitted due to insanity, waived out of province); 4) Stay, 5) Acquitted,
Withdrawn, Dismissed, Discharged at Preliminary; and 6) Unknown. The most serious sentence order of ranking is: 1) Prison; 2) Probation; 3) Fine,
4) Restitution/compensation, 5) Other (absolute or conditional discharge, suspended sentence, other).
*** "Other" most serious sentences include absolute and conditional discharge, suspended sentence, payment of legal costs and suspension of drivers license
Table 5.2: Percentage of Adult Female Disposition Per Total Adult Female Dispositions*, Canada
(The Canada total does not include British Columbia, Manitoba and New Brunswick for 1994/95 and 1995/96and Northwest Territories for 1996/97)
% OF DISPOSITION |
1994/1995 |
1995/1996 |
1996/1997 |
| Prison |
23 |
22 |
22 |
| Probation |
34 |
34 |
38 |
| Fine |
37 |
34 |
34 |
| Restitution |
.09 |
.06 |
.10 |
| Other** |
3 |
3 |
5 |
| Unknown |
4 |
6 |
1 |
* Source: Adult Criminal Court Survey
** "Other" most serious sentences include absolute and conditional discharge, suspended sentence, payment of legal costs and suspension of drivers license
Chart 5.2A: Percentage of Adult Female Dispositions Per Total Adult Female Dispositions, Canada
Table 5.3: Adult Female Disposition*, Regions
(The regional totals do not include British Columbia in the Pacific region, Manitoba in the Prairie region and New Brunswick in the Atlantic region in 1994/95 and 1995/96 and the Northwest Territories in the Prairie region in 1996/97)
DISPOSITION** |
1994/1995 |
%*** |
1995/1996 |
% |
1996/1997 |
% |
| ATLANTIC | ||||||
| Prison |
309 |
14.2 |
366 |
14.7 |
353 |
14.6 |
| Probation |
797 |
36.6 |
1,012 |
40.5 |
1,106 |
45.9 |
| Fine |
915 |
42.0 |
1,003 |
40.3 |
817 |
33.9 |
| Restitution |
7 |
.32 |
3 |
.12 |
6 |
.25 |
| Other*****
Unknown TOTAL |
136 16 2,180 |
6.2 .73 100.0 |
105 2 2,491 |
4.2 .08 100.0 |
119 11 2,412 |
4.9 .46 100.0 |
| QUEBEC | ||||||
| Prison |
783 |
16.5 |
928 |
19.2 |
748 |
16.2 |
| Probation |
2,116 |
44.5 |
2,132 |
44.2 |
2,152 |
46.7 |
| Fine |
1,703 |
35.8 |
1,602 |
33.2 |
1,525 |
33.1 |
| Restitution |
5 |
.1 |
2 |
.04 |
3 |
.07 |
| Other
Unknown TOTAL |
146 6 4,759 |
3.1 .13 100.0 |
155 9 4,828 |
3.2 .19 100.0 |
167 9 4,604 |
3.6 .20 100.0 |
| ONTARIO | ||||||
| Prison |
5,179 |
28.5 |
4,723 |
27.6 |
4,794 |
27.4 |
| Probation |
6,366 |
35.0 |
5,968 |
34.8 |
7,015 |
40.1 |
| Fine |
5,163 |
28.4 |
4,325 |
25.2 |
4,583 |
26.2 |
| Restitution |
8 |
.04 |
5 |
.03 |
13 |
.07 |
| Other |
139 |
.76 |
124 |
.72 |
735 |
4.2 |
| Unknown
TOTAL |
1,327 18,182 |
7.3 100.0 |
1,987 17,132 |
11.6 100.0 |
370 17,510 |
2.1 100.0 |
| PRAIRIE | ||||||
| Prison |
1,881 |
17.4 |
1,812 |
17.4 |
1,694 |
17.5 |
| Probation |
2,750 |
25.5 |
2,777 |
26.7 |
2,661 |
27.4 |
| Fine |
5,487 |
50.8 |
5,095 |
49.1 |
4,562 |
47.0 |
| Restitution |
11 |
.10 |
10 |
.10 |
12 |
.12 |
| Other |
579 |
5.4 |
586 |
5.6 |
683 |
7.0 |
| Unknown
TOTAL |
91 10,799 |
.84 100.0 |
107 10,387 |
1.0 100.0 |
94 9,706 |
.97 100.0 |
| PACIFIC | ||||||
| Prison |
35 |
25.4 |
36 |
20.9 |
24 |
15.9 |
| Probation |
51 |
37.0 |
75 |
43.6 |
74 |
49.0 |
| Fine |
51 |
37.0 |
49 |
28.5 |
37 |
24.5 |
| Restitution |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Other |
1 |
.72 |
12 |
7.0 |
16 |
11.0 |
| Unknown
TOTAL |
-- 138 |
-- 100.0 |
-- 172 |
-- 100.0 |
-- 151 |
-- 100.0 |
* Source: Adult Criminal Court Survey
** Disposition is the most serious disposition for a person or a case. When there is more than one charge the following rule applies:
Dispositions are ordered from most to least serious: 1) Found guilty; 2) Transfer to Superior Court; 3) Other (acquitted due to insanity,
waived out of province); 4) Stay; 5) Acquitted, Withdrawn, Dismissed, Discharged at Preliminary; and 6) Unknown. The most serious
sentence ranking is: 1) Prison; 2) Probation, 3) Fine, 4) Restitution/compensation, 5) Other (absolute or conditional discharge,
suspended sentence, other).
*** Percentage of adult female dispositions per total adult female dispositions
**** "Other" most serious sentences include absolute and conditional discharge, suspended sentence, payment of legal costs and
suspension of drivers license.
***** Totals may not add to 100 due to rounding
****** - is nil or zero
DATA SOURCES
1. UNIFORM CRIME REPORTING SURVEY
- A continuous historical record of crime and traffic statistics that have been investigated and reported by every police agency in Canada since 1962.
- As of 1995, there were approximately 1,800 separate police locations responding to the Survey, comprising about 420 different police forces. The most significant loss of information occurs in the rare situation where a police force fails to submit data to the Centre. In this situation, estimates are calculated for that particular force.
- Collected information includes the number of criminal incidents, the clearance status of those incidents and information on persons charged.
- Data is available for nearly 100 separate criminal offenses.
- Incidents are classified according to the most serious offense occurring in the incident (generally the offense which carries the longest maximum sentence under the Criminal Code of Canada). Violent offenses always take precedence over non-violent offenses (i.e., an incident involving a breaking and entering offense and an assault is counted as an assault incident).
2. REVISED, OR INCIDENT BASED, UNIFORM CRIME REPORTING SURVEY
- In 1984 the UCR Survey was re-developed to expand the information collected from the UCR Survey.
- The Revised UCR Survey allows detailed examinations of accused and victim characteristics (e.g., age, sex, alcohol/drug consumption, relationship, level of injury and weapon causing injury), as well as characteristics of the incident itself (e.g., location, targets of violations, secondary violations, the presence of weapons, property type, date and time).
- In 1996, the Revised UCR Survey had 154 police forces reporting to it, representing about 47% of the national volume of reported crime: 39% of incidents were from Quebec, 38% from Ontario, 10% from Alberta, 8% from British Columbia, 4% from Saskatchewan and 1% from New Brunswick. With the exception of Quebec, the majority of police departments are urban.
3. ADULT CRIMINAL COURT SURVEY
- A national database of statistical information on charges, cases and persons involving accused who are aged 18 years or older, companies and youths that have been raised to adult criminal court.
- The data on completed federal statute charges are collected by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics in collaboration with provincial and territorial government departments responsible for provincial criminal courts.
- The primary unit of analysis is the case, which is defined as one or more charges laid against an individual and disposed of in court on the same day.
- Coverage is of provincial criminal courts in seven provinces and two territories (representing approximately 80% of the national provincial criminal court caseload). They are Newfoundland (2.0%), Prince Edward Island (0.4%), Nova Scotia (4.1%), Quebec (20.6%), Ontario (50.9%), Saskatchewan (6.5%), Alberta (14.3%), Yukon (0.5%) and the Northwest Territories (0.7%).
- Data for federal statute offenses heard in Quebec’s municipal courts are not currently available. It is estimated that approximately 20 percent of federal statute charges in Quebec are heard in municipal court.
- In Quebec, sex is determined on the basis of the accused’s name, producing a relatively higher rate of sex unknown.
4. CANADIAN CENSUS
- Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Branch, Demography Division (Updated Postcensal Estimates for 1992, 1993, 1995; and Preliminal Postcensal for 1994 and 1996).
- Note that the population estimates used in this report are not the most recent. However, the changes are very slight and do not affect the results. To illustrate, the most recent population statistics available are the Final Postcensal Estimates for 1992; Updated Postcensal Estimates for 1993, 1994, 1995; and Preliminal Postcensal for 1996.
DATA PRESENTATION
- This report presents data on the national and regional levels separately and provides comparisons between regions. This is done because there is often disparity between regions and Canadian totals are greatly influenced by what happens in large population provinces, such as Ontario.
- The wording in this report, specifically the definitions, are often extracted verbatim from the sources (i.e., Uniform Crime Report and Adult Criminal Court Survey). If further clarification is needed on any definition, please refer to the original source.
DATA SOURCE EXPLANATIONS
Adult Criminal Court Survey
- A case is one or more charges against a person or corporation, where the charges are disposed of in the same court on the same date. Charges are linked to a case on the basis of court location, accused identifier and date of last court appearance. The offenses listed in each "case-based" table contain offense information on the one offense defined as the most serious in each case.
Uniform Crime Report
- An incident is the basis for counting reported crime. An incident is the set of connected events usually constituting an occurrence report. In the aggregate survey, the incident is used in conjunction with the Most Serious Offense rule to form the aggregate offense counts (see below for definition of the Most Serious Offense rule). In the incident based survey, information for each incident is reported individually. Aggregate most serious offense rules are then applied to these data in order to reconcile them with historical aggregate counts as well as with data from aggregate respondents.
- Most Serious Offense Rule -The UCR classifies incidents according to the most serious offense in the incident. In categorizing incidents, violent offenses always take precedence over non-violent offenses. The UCR Survey scores violent incidents differently from other types of crimes. For violent crimes, a separate incident is recorded for each victim (categorized according to the most serious offense against the victim). If, for example, one person assaults three people, then three incidents are recorded. If three people assault one person, only one incident is recorded. For non-violent crimes, one incident (categorized according to the most serious offense in the incident) is counted for every distinct or separate occurrence.
- Robbery is one exception to the above ruling. Robbery is categorized as a violent offense. Unlike all other violent offenses, one occurrence of robbery is equal to one incident, regardless of the number of victims. The reason for this exception is that robbery can involve many people who could all be considered victims. In a bank robbery with 5 tellers and 20 customers present, 25 incidents of robbery would be counted if the normal scoring rule for violent incidents were applied. This would seriously overstate the occurrence of robbery.
- Thus, the total number of incidents recorded by the UCR survey is not a census of all violations of the law that come to the attention of the police. Rather, it is equal to the number of victims of violent crimes (other than robberies) plus the number of separate occurrences of non-violent crimes (and robberies).
- Persons charged -The UCR also records the number of persons charged. For incidents that are cleared, the survey collects the number of adults charged by gender, as well as the number of youths (aged 12 to 17 years) charged by gender. The "persons charged" category includes the number of people charged or recommended for charges by police, not the number of charges laid or recommended to be laid against those people. A person who is simultaneously charged with more than one offense is counted according to the most serious offense, even if the offenses occurred in more than one incident. In addition, persons may be counted more than once throughout the year; that is, individuals are counted on each occasion that they are charged by the police.
- Persons charged refers to persons who were charged in connection with a particular incident. These persons, however, may have been charged later with a lesser offense. For example, a person who commits a breaking and entering offense may be charged with possession of stolen goods if, for instance, the police have stronger evidence on the latter offense. Both the actual incident and the person charged are counted under breaking and entering, even though the person was actually charged with possession of stolen goods.
