Correctional Service Canada
www.csc-scc.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Research Brief
This Web page has been archived on the Web.
Male Young Offenders in Canada: Recent Trends
Roberta Lynn Sinclair & Roger Boe
Research Branch
Correctional Service Canada
May, 1998
The focus of this report is a summary and presentation of recent trends involving male young 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, the report 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 three data sources used in compiling this report are The Uniform Crime Report Survey, the Youth Court Survey, and the Correction Key Indicator Report. The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics publishes all three sources. The analyses in this report examine male young offender trends over the past five years, and are directed toward seven questions:
1. Has there been an increase in male youth charged by police, 1992-1996?
- There has been a gradual decrease at the national level.
- At the regional level, both the Prairie and Pacific regions expereienced a consistent decrease. The rates reamined farily stable for the other regions.
- By offense category, there was a slight increase in violent crimes and a more dramatic increase in drug offenses. Property crimes decreased significantly and other offenses decreased.
- Has there been an increase in male youth processed through the youth court system, 1992/93-1996/97?
- There has been a decrease at the national level.
- Most regions experienced a decrease, however the Atlantic and Quebec region indicate a slight increase from 1992/93 to 1996/97.
- There was a consistent decrease of property crimes and other crimes, while crimes of violence increased slightly. Young offenders act offenses peaked in 1993/94 and decreased in subsequent years but still slightly above the 1992/93 rate. Drug offences consistently increased.
3. Are male youth getting involved with crime at a younger age?
- At the national level, male youth are not getting involved with crime at a younger age.
- A mean age of 15.5 has remained consistent from 1992/93 to 1994/95, increasing to 16 in 1996/97.
4. Are male youth getting more violent?
- The Uniform Crime Report Survey (UCR) data suggests that the national rate of violent crime among male youth has remained fairly constant at approximately 137 per 10,000 since 1992.
- Although there was fluctuation, there were no major regional trends evident in the UCR data. The Prairie region had the highest rate per 10,000 male youth population and Quebec had the lowest rate.
- At the national level, there was a steady increase in the number of male youth processed through the youth court system, followed by a slight decrease in 1994/95 and 1995/96, and a slight increase in 1996/97.
- Youth court statistics indicate relative stability among the violent offenses over the four-year period.
- Has there been an increase in the frequency of male youth remanded into custody pending disposition of a charge?
Due to data from only Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and British Columbia, conclusions are tentative.
- Prince Edward Island increased from 1993/94 to 1996/97.
- Manitoba decreased in 1994/95 followed by a steady increase through to 1996/97.
- British Columbia increased slightly over the 4-year span.
6. Are male youth getting more serious dispositions?
- There has been consistent increase in secure custody dispositions. Open custody experienced an increase followed by a decrease in 1996/97. Probation reveals a decrease until 1994/95 when an increase trend began. Fine and community service order and absolute discharge dispositions decreased.
- There was relative disposition stability in the Atlantic region. There was a slight decrease in the use of secure custody and a slight increase in the use of probation in the Quebec region. In the Ontario region, there was an increase in the use of secure custody and probation dispositions, and a substantial decrease in fine and community service orders. There was a slight increase in the use of secure custody dispositions in the Prairie and Pacific regions.
- The most common disposition across regions was probation, except in the Ontario region in 1993/94 where fine and community service order were the most common dispositions.
- Has there been an increase in the number of male youth transferred to adult court?
- Yes there has been an increase. From 1992/93 to 1994/95 the number of youth transferred to adult court more than doubled, fluctuating in subsequent years.
- From 1991/92 to 1996/97, a total of 486 male youths were transferred to adult court. The majority of youth (87%) were 16 years of age or older.
- The Prairie region has the highest number of transfers, while the Atlantic region has the lowest.
- The unit of analyses is cases processed (Youth Court Survey) and incidents or persons charged (Uniform Crime Report Survey) (in the latter case this includes 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 and F. Please see original source for further clarification.
- The Youth Court Survey and Corrections Key Indicator Report data are presented for fiscal years. The Uniform Crime Report Survey data are presented for calendar years. Caution must therefore be used in making comparisons between the data sources. The Postcensal and updated Postcensal population estimates (Statistics Canada) are for July 1 of the specific year.
- The population estimates used in this report may not be the most recent revision of the data. The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics provides revisions the year following the original release. The changes, however, are small and do not effect the findings of this report (See Appendix A, Canadian Census).
- To contextualize the UCR findings in this report, the rates of adult females and males, and youth females and males charged by police increased from 1984 to 1991. From 1991 to 1996, the overall charge rates have declined.
SUMMARY *
NOTE *
TABLE OF CONTENTS *
LIST OF TABLES *
LIST OF CHARTS *
RESEARCH QUESTIONS *
QUESTION 1: HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN MALE YOUTH CHARGED BY THE POLICE, 1992 - 1996? *
QUESTION 2: HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN MALE YOUTH PROCESSED THROUGH THE YOUTH COURT SYSTEM, 1992/93 - 1996/97? *
QUESTION 3: ARE MALE YOUTH GETTING INVOLVED WITH CRIME AT A YOUNGER AGE? *
QUESTION 4: ARE MALE YOUTH GETTING MORE VIOLENT? *
QUESTION 5: HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE FREQUENCY OF MALE YOUTH REMANDED INTO CUSTODY PENDING DISPOSITION OF A CHARGE? *
QUESTION 6: ARE MALE YOUTH GETTING MORE SERIOUS DISPOSITIONS? *
QUESTION 7: HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MALE YOUTH TRANSFERRED TO ADULT COURT? *
APPENDIX A *
APPENDIX B *
APPENDIX C *
APPENDIX D *
APPENDIX E *
APPENDIX F *
Table 1.1: Male Youth Charged by Police*, Canada *
Table 1.2: Total Male Youth (Aged 12-17 Years) Population*, Canada *
Table 1.3: Male Youth Charged by Police*, Regions *
Table 1.4: Total Male Youth (Aged 12 - 17 Years) Population*, Regions *
Table 2.1: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System*, *
Table 2.2: Total Male Youth (Aged 12-17 Years) Population, Canada *
Table 2.3: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System*, *
Table 2.4: Total Male Youth (Aged 12 - 17 Years) Population, Regions *
Table 3.1: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court*, by Principle Charge**, by Age***, Canada *
Table 3.2: Total Male Youth, by Age (12 - 17 Years) Population, Canada *
Table 3.3: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court*, by *
Table 4.1: Male Youth Charged by Police* for a Violent Offense, Canada *
Table 4.2: Total Male Youth (Aged 12 - 17 Years) Population*, Canada *
Table 4.3: Male Youth Charged by Police* for a Violent Offense, Regions *
Table 4.4: Total Male Youth (Aged 12 - 17 Years) Population*, Canada *
Table 4.5: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court *
Table 4.6: Total Male Youth (Aged 12 - 17 Years) Population*, Canada *
Table 5.1: Male Youth Remanded into Custody* Per Month**, Select Provinces*** *
Table 5.2: Male Youth (Aged 12-17 Years) Population, Select Provinces *
Table 6.1: Male Youth Disposition*, Canada *
Table 6.2: Percentage of Male Youth Disposition Per Total Male *
Table 6.3: Male Youth Disposition*, Regions *
Table 7.1: Male Youth Transferred to Adult Court*, Regions & Canada *
Table 7.2: Male Youth Transferred to Adult Court* by Age, Canada *
Chart 1.1A: Total Male Youth Charged by Police, Canada *
Chart 1.1B: Male Youth Charged by Police Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Canada *
Chart 1.1C: Male Youth Charged by Police by Offense Category Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Canada *
Chart 1.3A: Male Youth Charged by Police Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Regions *
Chart 2.1A: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System *
Chart 2.1B: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System *
Chart 2.3A: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System *
Chart 3.1A: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court, by *
Chart 3.1B: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court, Per *
Chart 3.3A: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court, by Principle Charge, byAge, Atlantic Region *
Chart 3.3B: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court, by Principle Charge, by Age, Quebec Region *
Chart 3.3C: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court, by Principle Charge, by Age, Ontario Region *
Chart 3.3D: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court, by Principle Charge, by Age, Prairie Region *
Chart 3.3E: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court, by Principle Charge, by Age, Pacific Region *
Chart 4.1A: Total Male Youth Charged for a Violent Offense by *
Chart 4.1B: Male Youth Charged for a Violent Offense by Police Per *
Chart 4.4A: Male Youth Charged for a Violent Offense by Police Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Regions *
Chart 4.5A: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System For a Violent Offense Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Canada *
Chart 4.5B: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System For a Violent Offense Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Canada *
Chart 5.1A: Male Youth Remanded Into Custody Per Month, Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Select Provinces *
Chart 6.2A: Percentage of Male Youth Dispositions Per Total Male Youth Dispositions, Canada *
Chart 6.3A: Percentage of Male Youth Dispositions Per Total Male Youth Dispositions, Atlantic Region *
Chart 6.3B: Percentage of Male Youth Dispositions Per Total Male Youth Dispositions, Quebec Region *
Chart 6.3C: Percentage of Male Youth Dispositions Per Total Male Youth Dispositions, Ontario Region *
Chart 6.3D: Percentage of Male Youth Dispositions Per Total Male Youth Dispositions, Prairie Region *
Chart 6.3E: Percentage of Male Youth Dispositions Per Total Male Youth Dispositions, Pacific Region *
Chart 7.1: Male Youth Transferred to Adult Court, Canada 1991/92 – 1996-97 *
QUESTION 1:
HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN MALE YOUTH CHARGED BY THE POLICE, 1992 - 1996?
QUESTION 2:
HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN MALE YOUTH PROCESSED THROUGH THE YOUTH COURT SYSTEM, 1992/93 – 1996/97?
QUESTION 3:
ARE MALE YOUTH GETTING INVOLVED WITH CRIME AT A YOUNGER AGE?
QUESTION 4:
ARE MALE YOUTH GETTING MORE VIOLENT?
QUESTION 5:
HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE FREQUENCY OF MALE YOUTH REMANDED INTO CUSTODY PENDING DISPOSITION OF A CHARGE?
QUESTION 6:
ARE MALE YOUTH GETTING MORE SERIOUS DISPOSITIONS?
QUESTION 7:
HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MALE YOUTH TRANSFERRED TO ADULT COURT?
* Refer to Appendix A for definitions of data sources
** Refer to Appendix B for format of data presentation
HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN MALE YOUTH CHARGED BY THE POLICE, 1992 - 1996?
Canada
- Since 1992 there has been a gradual decrease.
- By offense, property crimes had the most notable decrease trend. Crimes of violence increased slightly until 1995 followed by a slight decrease in 1996 to a rate slightly above the 1992 rate. A similar pattern is evident in the drug offence category, however the slight decrease in 1995 is followed by an increase in 1996.
Regions
- There was consistent decrease in the Prairie and Pacific regions. Fluctuations experienced in the other three regions suggest no coherent patterns. Overall, the rates remained fairly steady for all regions.
- In the Atlantic region there was a decrease from 1993 – 1995, followed by the highest rate in 1996.
- The Quebec region experienced a decrease from 1992 – 1994, followed by an increase from 1995 – 1996 .
- The trend in the Ontario region suggests the greatest fluctuation. A significant decrease from 1992 to 1993 was followed by a slight increase from 1994 – 1995, and a notable decrease in 1996.
- Both the Prairie and the Pacific region consistently decreased in the rate of male youth charged by police, 1992 – 1996.
- Over the 5-year span, the Prairie region consistently had the highest rate per 10,000 male youth population, followed by the Pacific region. The lowest rate was in the Quebec region. Ontario and the Atlantic regions had similar rates.
Table 1.1: Male Youth 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 | 15,742 |
132.8 |
16,375 |
136.4 |
16,753 |
138.5 |
17,250 |
141.0 |
16,589 |
134.1 |
| Property Crimes | 66,591 |
561.9 |
59,242 |
493.6 |
54,784 |
452.9 |
52,945 |
432.9 |
51,242 |
414.1 |
| Drugs*** | 2,186 |
18.4 |
2,959 |
24.7 |
4,176 |
37.2 |
4,494 |
36.7 |
4,796 |
38.8 |
| Other**** | 27,876 |
235.2 |
27,030 |
225.2 |
26,696 |
220.7 |
26,696 |
218.3 |
26,631 |
215.2 |
| TOTAL | 112,395 |
948. 4 |
105,606 |
880.1 |
101,675 |
840.6 |
101,385 |
829.0 |
99,258 |
802.1 |
* Source: Uniform Crime Report
** Rate per 10,000 total male youth (aged 12-17 years) population
*** Drugs = Narcotics Control Act & Food and Drugs Act
**** Other = Other Federal Statutes & Other Crime
Table 1.2: Total Male Youth (Aged 12-17 Years) Population*, Canada
| TOTAL MALE |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1,185,000 |
1,200,000 |
1,209,600 |
1,222,979 |
1,237,472 |
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Branch, Demography Division.
Chart 1.1A: Total Male Youth Charged by Police, Canada
Chart 1.1B: Male Youth Charged by Police Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Canada
Table 1.3: Male Youth 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 | 1,152 |
104.7 |
1,346 |
124.9 |
1,363 |
129.3 |
1,324 |
127.0 |
1,259 |
121.4 |
| Property Crimes | 5,064 |
460.4 |
5,264 |
488.3 |
4,974 |
471.9 |
4,663 |
447.3 |
4,868 |
469.4 |
| Drugs*** | 117 |
10.2 |
150 |
13.9 |
227 |
21.5 |
223 |
21.4 |
319 |
30.8 |
| Other**** | 2,779 |
252.6 |
2,554 |
236.9 |
2,511 |
238.2 |
2,493 |
239.1 |
2,615 |
252.2 |
| TOTAL | 9,112 |
828.4 |
9,314 |
864.0 |
9,075 |
861.0 |
8,703 |
834.8 |
9,061 |
873.8 |
| QUEBEC | ||||||||||
| Crimes of Violence | 2,549 |
84.8 |
2,502 |
82.4 |
2,617 |
85.7 |
2,696 |
89.0 |
2,501 |
83.3 |
| Property Crime | 11,584 |
385.4 |
9,314 |
306.6 |
8,179 |
268.0 |
7,889 |
260.4 |
8,271 |
275.5 |
| Drugs | 538 |
17.7 |
936 |
30.9 |
1,272 |
41.7 |
1,286 |
42.5 |
1,445 |
48.1 |
| Other | 3,603 |
119.9 |
3,059 |
100.7 |
2,642 |
86.6 |
2,861 |
94.4 |
2,926 |
97.5 |
| TOTAL | 18,274 |
607.9 |
15,811 |
520.4 |
14,710 |
482.0 |
14,732 |
486.3 |
15,143 |
504.4 |
| ONTARIO | ||||||||||
| Crimes of Violence | 6,573 |
155.5 |
6,648 |
154.9 |
6,699 |
151.8 |
7,111 |
161.2 |
6,429 |
142.8 |
| Property Crimes | 21,581 |
510.4 |
19,492 |
454.0 |
17,974 |
415.5 |
18,086 |
409.9 |
16,609 |
369.0 |
| Drugs | 736 |
17.3 |
945 |
22.0 |
1,427 |
33.0 |
1,718 |
38.9 |
1,791 |
39.8 |
| Other | 11,036 |
261.0 |
10,709 |
249.5 |
10,663 |
246.5 |
10,647 |
241.3 |
9,940 |
220.8 |
| TOTAL | 39,926 |
944.3 |
37,794 |
800.4 |
36,763 |
849.8 |
37,562 |
851.3 |
34,769 |
772.4 |
| PRAIRIE | ||||||||||
| Crimes of Violence | 3,519 |
164.4 |
3,730 |
171.8 |
3,655 |
166.3 |
3,746 |
167.5 |
4,008 |
175.9 |
| Property Crimes | 18,474 |
862.9 |
16,487 |
759.4 |
15,349 |
698.3 |
14,435 |
645.6 |
14,054 |
616.8 |
| Drugs | 309 |
14.3 |
430 |
19.8 |
7,187 |
327.0 |
563 |
25.2 |
632 |
27.7 |
| Other | 8,303 |
387.8 |
7,914 |
364.5 |
532 |
24.2 |
7,685 |
343.7 |
8,229 |
361.2 |
| TOTAL | 30,605 |
1,429.5 |
28,561 |
1,315.6 |
26,723 |
1,215.8 |
26,429 |
1,182.0 |
26,923 |
1,181.6 |
| PACIFIC | ||||||||||
| Crimes of Violence | 1,949 |
141.7 |
2,149 |
151.3 |
2,419 |
165.0 |
2,373 |
157.2 |
2,392 |
153.8 |
| Property Crimes | 9,167 |
666.7 |
8,685 |
611.6 |
8,308 |
566.7 |
7,872 |
521.4 |
7,440 |
478.3 |
| Drugs | 507 |
36.7 |
498 |
35.1 |
2,959 |
201.9 |
704 |
46.6 |
609 |
39.1 |
| Other | 2,855 |
207.6 |
2,794 |
196.7 |
718 |
49.0 |
3,010 |
199.4 |
2,921 |
187.8 |
| TOTAL | 14,478 |
1,052.9 |
14,126 |
994.8 |
14,404 |
982.5 |
13,959 |
924.5 |
13,362 |
859.0 |
| TOTAL | 112,395 |
948.4 |
105,606 |
880.1 |
101,675 |
840.6 |
101,385 |
829.0 |
99,258 |
802.1 |
* Source: Uniform Crime Report
** Rate per 10,000 total male (aged 12 - 17 years) population
*** Drugs = Narcotics Control Act & Food and Drugs Act
**** Other = Other Federal Statutes & Other Crime
***** Figures may not add to totals due to rounding
Table 1.4: Total Male Youth (Aged 12 - 17 Years) Population*, Regions
| TOTAL MALE | |||||
| YOUTH | |||||
| POPULATION | 1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
| Atlantic | 110,000 |
107,800 |
105,400 |
104,248 |
103,698 |
| Quebec | 300,600 |
303,800 |
305,200 |
302,919 |
300,221 |
| Ontario | 422,800 |
429,300 |
432,600 |
441,233 |
450,147 |
| Prairie | 214,100 |
217,100 |
219,800 |
223,595 |
227,844 |
| Pacific | 137,500 |
142,000 |
146,600 |
150,984 |
155,562 |
|
TOTAL |
1,185,000 |
1,200,000 |
1,209,600 |
1,222,979 |
1,237,472 |
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Division, Demography Division
Chart 1.3A: Male Youth Charged by Police Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Regions
Canada
- Overall, there has been a decrease.
- However, crimes of violence increased until 1993/94 when there was a slight decrease in 1994/95, increasing slightly in subsequent years. Young offenders act offenses peaked in 1993/94 and decreased in the following years, but remaining above the 1992/93 rate.
- The only consistent decrease trends from 1992/93 to 1996/97 were in property crimes and other crimes (other Federal Statutes and Other Crimes).
- The drug offense trend consistently increased.
Regions
- Both the Atlantic and Quebec regions indicate an increase from 1992/93 to 1996/97. The other regions report a decrease. The most significant decrease was in the Prairie region, followed by the Pacific region.
- In 1996/97, the Prairie region had the highest rate per 10,000 male youth population, followed by Ontario, Atlantic, Pacific and Quebec regions.
Table 2.1: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System*, Canada
| 1992/1993 | 1993/1994 | 1994/1995 | 1995/1996 | 1996/1997 | ||||||
|
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 | 16,676 |
140.7 |
17,646 |
147.0 |
17,489 |
144.6 |
18,400 |
150.5 |
18,215 |
147.2 |
| Property Crimes | 52,047 |
439.2 |
48,892 |
407.4 |
44,148 |
365.0 |
43,037 |
351.9 |
42,453 |
343.1 |
| Drugs*** | 1,942 |
16.4 |
2,687 |
22.4 |
3,949 |
32.6 |
4,324 |
35.4 |
4,747 |
38.4 |
| Other**** | 15,783 |
133.2 |
15,945 |
132.9 |
15,375 |
127.1 |
14,936 |
122.1 |
14,258 |
115.2 |
| Young Offenders Act***** | 7,964 |
67.2 |
8,887 |
74.1 |
8,624 |
71.3 |
8,432 |
68.9 |
8,440 |
68.2 |
| TOTAL | 94,412 |
796.7 |
94,057 |
783.8 |
89,585 |
740.6 |
89,129 |
728.8 |
88,113 |
712.0 |
* Source: Youth Court Statistics
** Rate per 10,000 total male youth (aged 12-17 years) population
*** Drugs = Narcotics Control Act & Food and Drugs Act
**** Other = Other Federal Statutes & Other Crimes
***** Young Offenders Act = Failure to Comply with a Disposition or Undertaking, Contempt Against Youth Court, and
Assist/Interfere Other
Table 2.2: Total Male Youth (Aged 12-17 Years) Population, Canada
| TOTAL MALE | |||||
| YOUTH | |||||
| POPULATION | 1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1,185,000 |
1,200,000 |
1,209,600 |
1,222,979 |
1,237,472 |
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Branch, Demography Division
Chart 2.1A: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Canada
Chart 2.1B: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System by Offense Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Canada
Table 2.3: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System*,
Regions
1992/1993 |
1993/1994 |
1994/1995 |
1995/1996 |
1996/1997 |
||||||
| 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 |
| ATLANTIC | ||||||||||
| Crimes of Violence | 1,231 |
111.9 |
1,322 |
122.6 |
1,326 |
125.8 |
1,304 |
125.1 |
1,400 |
135.0 |
| Property Crimes | 4,243 |
385.7 |
4,088 |
379.2 |
3,923 |
372.2 |
3,840 |
368.4 |
4,086 |
394.0 |
| Drugs*** | 114 |
10.4 |
154 |
14.3 |
206 |
19.5 |
236 |
22.6 |
333 |
32.1 |
| Other **** | 942 |
85.6 |
864 |
80.1 |
801 |
76.0 |
780 |
74.8 |
912 |
87.9 |
| Young Offenders Act***** | 548 |
49.8 |
634 |
58.8 |
662 |
62.8 |
669 |
64.2 |
791 |
76.3 |
| Atlantic – Total | 7,078 |
643.5 |
7,062 |
655.1 |
6,918 |
656.4 |
6,829 |
655.1 |
7,522 |
725.4 |
| QUEBEC | ||||||||||
| Crimes of Violence | 2,211 |
73.6 |
2,222 |
73.1 |
2,511 |
82.3 |
2,214 |
73.1 |
2,215 |
73.8 |
| Property Crimes | 5,160 |
171.7 |
4,841 |
159.3 |
4,542 |
148.8 |
4,120 |
136.0 |
4,860 |
161.9 |
| Drugs | 360 |
12.0 |
768 |
25.3 |
1,178 |
38.6 |
1,088 |
35.9 |
1,328 |
44.2 |
| Other | 1,205 |
40.1 |
1,135 |
37.4 |
1,214 |
39.8 |
1,286 |
42.5 |
1,317 |
43.9 |
| Young Offenders Act | 735 |
24.5 |
726 |
23.9 |
814 |
26.7 |
826 |
27.3 |
862 |
28.7 |
| Quebec – Total | 9,671 |
321.7 |
9,692 |
319.0 |
10,259 |
336.1 |
9,534 |
314.7 |
10,582 |
352.5 |
| ONTARIO | ||||||||||
| Crimes of Violence | 8,160 |
193.0 |
8,759 |
204.0 |
8,416 |
194.5 |
8,647 |
196.0 |
8,259 |
183.5 |
| Property Crimes | 20,208 |
478.0 |
20,055 |
467.2 |
17,984 |
415.7 |
17,967 |
407.2 |
16,965 |
376.9 |
| Drugs | 786 |
18.6 |
1,017 |
23.7 |
1,529 |
35.3 |
1,921 |
43.5 |
1,983 |
44.1 |
| Other | 6,878 |
162.7 |
7,071 |
164.7 |
6,835 |
158.0 |
6,871 |
155.7 |
6,695 |
148.7 |
| Young Offenders Act | 2,266 |
53.6 |
2,733 |
63.7 |
2,576 |
59.5 |
2,719 |
61.6 |
2,589 |
57.5 |
| Ontario - Total | 38,298 |
905.8 |
39,635 |
923.2 |
37,340 |
863.2 |
38,125 |
864.1 |
36,491 |
810.6 |
| PRAIRIE | ||||||||||
| Crimes of Violence | 4,352 |
203.3 |
4,758 |
219.2 |
4,568 |
207.8 |
4,521 |
202.2 |
4,467 |
196.1 |
| Property Crimes | 16,347 |
763.6 |
15,184 |
699.4 |
13,404 |
609.8 |
12,947 |
579.0 |
12,338 |
541.5 |
| Drugs | 379 |
17.7 |
458 |
21.1 |
642 |
29.2 |
578 |
25.9 |
659 |
28.9 |
| Other | 4,974 |
232.3 |
5,060 |
233.1 |
4,725 |
215.0 |
5,046 |
225.7 |
4,363 |
191.5 |
| Young Offenders Act | 3,080 |
143.9 |
3,360 |
154.8 |
3,154 |
143.5 |
3,117 |
139.4 |
2,909 |
127.7 |
| Prairie – Total | 29,132 |
1,360.7 |
28,820 |
1,327.5 |
26,493 |
1,205.3 |
26,209 |
1,172.2 |
24,736 |
1,085.7 |
| PACIFIC | ||||||||||
| Crimes of Violence | 1,752 |
127.4 |
1,625 |
114.4 |
1,705 |
116.3 |
1,714 |
113.5 |
1,874 |
120.5 |
| Property Crimes | 6,102 |
443.8 |
4,792 |
337.5 |
4,434 |
302.5 |
4,163 |
275.7 |
4,204 |
270.2 |
| Drugs | 346 |
25.2 |
329 |
23.2 |
447 |
30.5 |
501 |
33.2 |
444 |
28.5 |
| Other | 987 |
71.8 |
968 |
68.2 |
925 |
63.1 |
953 |
63.1 |
971 |
62.4 |
| Young Offenders Act | 1,046 |
76.1 |
1,134 |
79.9 |
1,064 |
72.6 |
1,101 |
72.9 |
1,289 |
82.9 |
| Pacific – Total | 10,233 |
744.2 |
8,848 |
623.1 |
8,575 |
585.0 |
8,432 |
558.5 |
8,782 |
564.5 |
| TOTAL | 94,412 |
796.7 |
94,057 |
783.8 |
89,585 |
740.6 |
89,129 |
728.8 |
88,113 |
712.0 |
* Source: Youth Court Statistics
** Rate per 10,000 total male youth (aged 12 - 17 years) population
*** Drugs = Narcotics Control Act & Food and Drugs Act
**** Other = Other Federal Statutes & Other Crime
***** YOA = Failure to Comply with a Disposition or Undertaking, Contempt Against Youth Court, and Assist/Interfere Other.
****** 1991 YCS not included because the Youth Court Statistics Report does not differentiate between males and females with this data.
However, the data may be made available from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.
Table 2.4: Total Male Youth (Aged 12 - 17 Years) Population, Regions
| TOTAL MALE YOUTH | |||||
| POPULATION | 1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
| Atlantic | 110,000 |
107,800 |
105,400 |
104,248 |
103,698 |
| Quebec | 300,600 |
303,800 |
305,200 |
302,919 |
300,221 |
| Ontario | 422,800 |
429,300 |
432,600 |
441,233 |
450,147 |
| Prairie | 214,100 |
217,100 |
219,800 |
223,595 |
227,844 |
| Pacific | 137,500 |
142,000 |
146,600 |
150,984 |
155,562 |
| TOTAL | 1,185,000 |
1,200,000 |
1,209,600 |
1,222,979 |
1,237,472 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Branch, Demography Division
Chart 2.3A: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Regions
ARE MALE YOUTH GETTING INVOLVED WITH CRIME AT A YOUNGER AGE?
Canada
- Overall, it appears that male youth are not getting involved with crime at a younger age. This is true both for male youth charged by police and the rate of male youth charged by police per 10,000 male youth population. There was a steady trend whereby the number of youths processed increased as the age increased.
- The mean age of 15.5 was consistent from 1992/93 to 1994/95, increasing to 16 in 1996/97.
- In 1993/94, a slight increase trend began in the 12-year-old category and continued into 1995/96.
Regions
- In all regions, the greatest number of male youth processed through youth court by principle charge were 17 years of age.
- The following is characteristic of each region:
Atlantic Region: There was a slight increase in males aged 12, 13, 14, 15 and over 17 processed from 1992/93 to 1996/97. There was a decreased number of male youth processed in the other age categories.
Quebec Region: There was a steady trend of increase in number of youth processed in every year and in each age category except for the over 17 year old age group which experienced a decrease.
Ontario Region: From 1992/93 – 1996/97 decreases were noted in all age groups except the 12, 13, 15 and over 17 age groups where there were slight increases.
Prairie Region: Decrease in numbers and in age of males processed through youth court from 1992/93 to 1996/97, except in the 12 year old age range where a slight increase was experienced.
Pacific Region: There was a decrease in numbers and of age of males processed through youth court from 1992/93 to 1996/97.
* See Appendix C for additional research findings
Table 3.1: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court*, by Principle Charge**, by Age***, Canada
| OFFENSE | <12 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
>17 |
Unknown |
| 1992/1993 | |||||||||
| Crimes of Violence | 13 |
639 |
1,448 |
2,616 |
3,502 |
4,408 |
4,753 |
33 |
294 |
| Property Crimes | 17 |
1,846 |
4,148 |
7,715 |
10,820 |
13,509 |
13,315 |
92 |
598 |
| Other Crimes | 1 |
201 |
640 |
1,586 |
2,534 |
4,188 |
5,149 |
475 |
212 |
| Drugs | - |
9 |
42 |
113 |
293 |
596 |
911 |
3 |
18 |
| Young Offenders Act | 1 |
50 |
300 |
905 |
1,525 |
1,881 |
2,272 |
674 |
67 |
| 1992/1993 TOTAL | 32 |
2,745 |
6,578 |
12,935 |
18,674 |
24,582 |
26,400 |
1,277 |
1,189 |
| Per 10,000 Male | 137.0 |
325.0 |
650.0 |
947.9 |
1,240.8 |
1,312.8 |
|||
| 1993/1994 | |||||||||
| Crimes of Violence | 15 |
796 |
1,706 |
2,753 |
3,695 |
4,376 |
4,940 |
81 |
324 |
| Property Crimes | 13 |
1,648 |
3,912 |
7,218 |
10,376 |
12,451 |
12,647 |
119 |
576 |
| Other Crimes | 5 |
289 |
740 |
1,603 |
2,763 |
3,802 |
5,110 |
558 |
228 |
| Drugs | - |
12 |
68 |
237 |
487 |
789 |
1,103 |
11 |
19 |
| Young Offenders Act | 1 |
96 |
421 |
1,001 |
1,760 |
2,096 |
2,389 |
734 |
89 |
| 1993/1994 TOTAL | 34 |
2,841 |
6,847 |
12,812 |
19,081 |
23,514 |
26,189 |
1,503 |
1,236 |
| Per 10,000 Male Youth | 141.8 |
348.3 |
658.7 |
968.6 |
1,184.6 |
1,312.1 |
|||
| 1994/1995 | |||||||||
| Crimes of Violence | 1 |
916 |
1,717 |
2,709 |
3,533 |
4,444 |
4,738 |
56 |
412 |
| Property Crimes | 3 |
1,620 |
3,623 |
6,512 |
9,331 |
11,379 |
11,117 |
108 |
594 |
| Other Crimes | - |
256 |
805 |
1,559 |
2,604 |
3,708 |
4,775 |
541 |
255 |
| Drugs | - |
24 |
98 |
352 |
727 |
1,201 |
1,556 |
14 |
30 |
| Young Offenders Act | - |
68 |
450 |
1,014 |
1,686 |
2,095 |
2,232 | 645 |
80 |
| 1994/1995 TOTAL | 4 |
2,884 |
6,690 |
12,146 |
17,881 |
22,827 |
24,418 |
1,364 |
1,371 |
| Per 10,000 Male Youth
1995/1996 Crimes of Violence Property Crimes Drugs Young Offenders Act Other Federal Statutes 1995/1996 TOTAL Per 10,000 Male Youth 1996/1997 Crimes of Violence Property Crimes Other Crimes Drugs Young Offenders Act 1996/1997 TOTAL Per 10,000 Male Youth |
19 14 - 1 5 39
- - - - - - |
142.7
917 1,684 21 94 309 3,025 148.7
946 1,644 335 35 95 3,055 148.4 |
327.8
1,820 3,691 94 425 871 6,901 338.0
1,826 3,530 810 150 438 6,754 329.3 |
594.8
2,899 6,411 370 1,009 1,717 12,406 601.5
2,804 6,384 1,615 438 1,106 12,347 599.0 |
890.0
3,637 9,142 826 1,751 2,702 18,058 875.9
3,662 9,291 2,845 934 1,916 18,648 896.4 |
1,149.4
4,189 11,008 1,314 2,142 3,831 22,484 1,127.6
4,188 10,722 3,601 1,373 2,143 22,027 1,059.4 |
1,222.7
4,544 10,587 1,664 2,372 4,743 23,910 1,193.2
4,438 10,394 4,436 1,770 2,196 23,234 1,137.0 |
7 172 9 569 541 1,298
63 83 401 18 483 966 |
308 388 26 69 217 1,008
288 405 215 29 64 1,152 |
| TOTAL | 109 |
14,550 |
33,770 |
62,646 |
92,342 |
115,434 |
124,151 |
6,490 |
5,805 |
* Source: Youth Court Survey
** By Principle Charge: The principle charge is the most serious charge for a person or case upon entering the youth court process. Where a young person or a case has only one charge, it is defined as the principle charge. Where more than one charge is linked to a person or a case, three criteria are used to select the principle charge: (1) the nature of the offense, (2) the decision of the court, and (3) the disposition of the charge. Violent charges are given first priority in the selection process, followed by drug and narcotic offenses, property offenses, other Criminal Code offenses, offenses under the Young Offenders Act, and other federal statute offenses.
*** Age at the time the most significant charge was committed
**** Other = Other Federal Statutes & Other Crime
***** Drugs = Narcotics Control Act & Food and Drugs Act
****** YOA = Failure to Comply with a Disposition or Undertaking, Contempt Against Youth Court, and Assist/Interfere Other
******* Rate per 10,000 total male youth (aged 12 - 17 years) population
******** - is nil or zero
Table 3.2: Total Male Youth, by Age (12 - 17 Years) Population, Canada
| Total Male Youth | ||||||||||
| Population | 12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
||||
| 1992 | 200,300 |
196,600 |
194,500 |
195,600 |
198,500 |
199,500 |
||||
| 1993 | 202,400 |
202,400 |
199,000 |
197,000 |
198,100 |
201,100 |
||||
| 1994 | 202,100 |
204,100 |
204,200 |
200,900 |
198,600 |
199,700 |
||||
| 1995 | 203,374 |
204,179 |
206,248 |
206,172 |
202,625 |
200,381 |
||||
| 1996 | 205,915 |
205,127 |
206,113 |
208,039 |
207,925 |
204,353 |
||||
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Branch, Demography Division
Chart 3.1A: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court, by Age, Canada
Chart 3.1B: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court, Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, by Age, Canada
1992/93 |
1993/94 |
1994/95 |
1995/96 |
1996/97 |
|
MEAN AGE |
15.4 |
15.5 |
15.5 |
15.4 |
16.0 |
Table 3.3: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court*, by
Principle Charge**, by Age***, Regions
REGION |
<12 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
>17 |
Unknown |
ATLANTIC |
|||||||||
1992/1993 |
1 |
218 |
499 |
887 |
1,256 |
1,969 |
2,196 |
29 |
23 |
1993/1994 |
2 |
207 |
559 |
854 |
1,335 |
1,879 |
2,139 |
68 |
19 |
1994/1995 |
2 |
243 |
534 |
910 |
1,262 |
1,907 |
1,969 |
64 |
27 |
1995/1996 1996/1997 |
2 - |
210 280 |
541 599 |
890 1,166 |
1,373 1,516 |
1,812 1,938 |
1,948 1,939 |
50 54 |
3 30 |
| QUEBEC | |||||||||
1992/1993 |
3 |
102 |
393 |
1,049 |
1,854 |
2,766 |
3,377 |
112 |
15 |
1993 /1994 |
4 |
123 |
391 |
1,050 |
1,879 |
2,728 |
3,425 |
92 |
- |
1994 /1995 |
1 |
119 |
423 |
1,262 |
2,027 |
2,824 |
3,516 |
82 |
5 |
1995/1996 1996/1997 |
- - |
127 119 |
450 437 |
1,151 1,201 |
2,000 2,203 |
2,608 3,012 |
3,130 3,521 |
66 83 |
2 6 |
1992/1993 |
19 |
1,255 |
2,809 |
5,598 |
7,717 |
9,601 |
9,941 |
265 |
1,093 |
1993 /1994 |
16 |
1,284 |
2,996 |
5,701 |
8,395 |
9,596 |
10,104 |
407 |
1,136 |
1994 /1995 |
1 |
1,317 |
2,952 |
5,101 |
7,657 |
9,210 |
9,414 |
405 |
1,283 |
1995/1996 1996/1997 |
33 - |
1,400 1,448 |
3,174 3,002 |
5,468 5,215 |
7,724 7,904 |
9,308 8,573 |
9,639 9,067 |
410 373 |
969 909 |
| PRAIRIE | |||||||||
1992/1993 |
9 |
936 |
2,151 |
3,975 |
5,681 |
7,583 |
8,001 |
742 |
54 |
1993 /1994 |
12 |
1,017 |
2,284 |
3,972 |
5,606 |
6,971 |
8,078 |
800 |
80 |
1994 /1995 |
- |
966 |
2,144 |
3,646 |
5,117 |
6,695 |
7,192 |
679 |
54 |
1995/1996 1996/1997 |
4 - |
1,005 982 |
2,070 2,018 |
3,615 3,490 |
5,186 5,093 |
6,714 6,212 |
6,965 6,449 |
619 441 |
31 51 |
| PACIFIC | |||||||||
1992/1993 |
- |
234 |
726 |
1,426 |
2,166 |
2,663 |
2,885 |
129 |
4 |
1993 /1994 |
- |
210 |
617 |
1,235 |
1,866 |
2,340 |
2,443 |
136 |
1 |
1994 /1995 |
- |
239 |
637 |
1,227 |
1,818 |
2,191 |
2,327 |
134 |
2 |
1995/1996 1996/1997 |
- - |
283 225 |
666 698 |
1,282 1,275 |
1,775 1,932 |
2,042 2,292 |
2,228 2,258 |
153 97 |
3 5 |
* Source: Youth Court Survey
** By Principle Charge: The principle charge is the most serious charge for a person or case upon entering the youth court process. Where a young person or a case has only one charge, it is defined as the principle charge. Where more than one charge is linked to a person or a case, three criteria are used to select the principle charge: (1) the nature of the offense, (2) the decision of the court, and (3) the disposition of the charge. Violent charges are given first priority in the selection process, followed by drug and narcotic offenses, property offenses, other Criminal Code offenses, offenses under the Young Offenders Act, and other federal statute offenses.
*** Age at the time the most significant charge was committed
**** Noting the similarity between the actual rate & the per 10,000 male youth population rate (refer to prior table), only the actual rate is referred to for the regions
***** - is nil or zero
Chart 3.3A: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court, by Principle Charge, by Age, Atlantic Region
Chart 3.3B: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court, by Principle Charge, by Age, Quebec Region
Chart 3.3C: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court, by Principle Charge, by Age, Ontario Region
Chart 3.3D: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court, by Principle Charge, by Age, Prairie Region
Chart 3.3E: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court, by Principle Charge, by Age, Pacific Region
ARE MALE YOUTH GETTING MORE VIOLENT?
Canada
Uniform Crime Report:
- Overall, there was a slight trend increase. Increases in the national level peaked in 1995 before returning in 1996 to a lower rate similar to 1992.
- The rate of homicide dropped significantly from 1992 to 1993. Since 1994 the rate has remained fairly stable at approximately 0.40 per 10,000 male youth.
- The attempted murder rate fluctuated from the lowest point in 1993 to the highest rate in 1994, decreasing and sustaining a rate of approximately 0.65 in subsequent years.
- There was a steady decrease in sexual assault and other sexual offenses from 1992 to 1996.
- There was a steady increase in non-sexual assault from 1992 to 1995, followed by a marked decline in 1996 to slightly above the 1992 rate.
- Abduction and robbery rates fluctuated, however in both offense categories variations are small.
- Across the 5-year span, non-sexual assault had the highest charge rate among the violent offense categories, followed by robbery, sexual assault and other sexual offenses, attempted murder, homicide, and abduction.
Youth Court Survey:
- From 1991/92 to 1993/94, there was steady increase in the number of male youth processed through the youth court system for a violent offense (per 10,000 male youth population), followed by a slight decrease in 1994/95 and 1995/96 and an increase in 1996/97.
Regions
Uniform Crime Report
- Although there was fluctuation among the regions no major trends were evident.
- An increase in the Atlantic region in 1992-1994 was followed by a decrease from 1995 to 1996.
- Consistent increases in the Quebec region from 1993 were followed by a slight decrease in 1996.
- The rate in Ontario decreased from 1992 to 1994. A slight increase in 1995 was followed by a marked decrease in 1996 to notably below the 1992 rate.
- The rate of male youth charged by police for a violent offense in the Prairie region was inconsistent, with the highest rate of male youth charges in 1996.
- In the Pacific region there was a slight increase until 1994 when a 1995 decrease trend continued into 1996.
- The Prairie region had the highest rate per 10,000 male youth population and Quebec region had the lowest rate.
* See Appendix D for additional research findings.
Table 4.1: Male Youth 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 | 49 |
0.41 |
33 |
0.27 |
48 |
0.40 |
49 |
0.40 |
47 |
0.38 |
|
| Attempted Murder | 66 |
0.56 |
61 |
0.51 |
103 |
0.85 |
81 |
0.66 |
81 |
0.65 |
|
| Sexual Assault & | 2,231 |
18.83 |
2,245 |
18.71 |
2,036 |
16.83 |
1,709 |
13.97 |
1,634 |
13.20 |
|
| Other Sexual Offenses*** | |||||||||||
| Non-Sexual Assault | 10,807 |
91.19 |
11,458 |
95.48 |
11,958 |
98.87 |
12,400 |
101.39 |
11,827 |
95.57 |
|
| **** | |||||||||||
| Abduction | 3 |
0.03 |
2 |
0.02 |
8 |
0.07 |
6 |
0.05 |
5 |
0.04 |
|
| Robbery | 2,586 |
21.83 |
2,576 |
21.46 |
2,600 |
21.50 |
3,005 |
24.57 |
2,995 |
24.20 |
|
| TOTAL | 15,742 |
132.84 |
16,375 |
136.46 |
16,753 |
138.50 |
17,250 |
141.05 |
16,589 |
134.06 |
|
* Source: Uniform Crime Report
** Rate per 10,000 total male youth (aged 12 - 17 years) population
*** There may be a difference in the definition for 1996 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 male youth (aged 12 - 17 years) population
Table 4.2: Total Male Youth (Aged 12 - 17 Years) Population*, Canada
| TOTAL MALE YOUTH | |||||
| POPULATION | 1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1,185,000 |
1,200,000 |
1,209,600 |
1,222,979 |
1,237,472 |
|
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Branch, Demography Division
Chart 4.1A: Total Male Youth Charged for a Violent Offense by Police Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Canada
Chart 4.1B: Male Youth Charged for a Violent Offense by Police Per 10,000 Male
Youth Population, Canada 
Table 4.3: Male Youth 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 | 3 |
0.27 |
3 |
0.28 |
2 |
0.19 |
4 |
0.38 |
1 |
0.10 |
| Attempted Murder | - |
- |
1 |
0.09 |
- |
- |
1 |
0.10 |
- |
- |
| Sexual Assault & | 235 |
21.36 |
271 |
25.14 |
220 |
20.87 |
198 |
19.00 |
167 |
16.10 |
| Other Sexual Offenses | ||||||||||
| Non-Sexual Assault | 847 |
77.0 |
994 |
92.21 |
1,055 |
100.09 |
1,043 |
100.05 |
1,034 |
99.71 |
| Abduction | - |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Robbery | 67 |
6.09 |
77 |
7.14 |
86 |
8.16 |
78 |
7.48 |
57 |
5.50 |
| Total | 1,152 |
104.73 |
1,346 |
124.86 |
1,363 |
129.32 |
1,324 |
127.00 |
1,259 |
121.41 |
| QUEBEC | ||||||||||
| Homicide | 11 |
0.37 |
7 |
0.23 |
13 |
0.43 |
6 |
0.20 |
4 |
0.13 |
| Attempted Murder | 31 |
1.03 |
19 |
0,63 |
47 |
1.54 |
20 |
0.66 |
23 |
0.77 |
| Sexual Assault & | 232 |
7.72 |
275 |
9.05 |
251 |
8.22 |
228 |
7.53 |
190 |
6.33 |
| Other Sexual Offenses | ||||||||||
| Non-Sexual Assault | 1,670 |
55.56 |
1,669 |
54.94 |
1,758 |
57.60 |
1,808 |
59.69 |
1,675 |
55.79 |
| Abduction | - |
- |
1 |
0.03 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
| Robbery | 605 |
20.13 |
531 |
17.48 |
548 |
17.96 |
634 |
20.93 |
609 |
20.29 |
| Total | 2,549 |
84.29 |
2,502 |
82.36 |
2,617 |
85.75 |
2,696 |
89.00 |
2,501 |
83.31 |
| ONTARIO | ||||||||||
| Homicide | 14 |
0.33 |
8 |
0.19 |
11 |
0.25 |
13 |
0.29 |
18 |
0.40 |
| Attempted Murder | 24 |
0.57 |
16 |
0.37 |
32 |
0.74 |
35 |
0.79 |
27 |
0.60 |
| Sexual Assault & | 845 |
20.0 |
838 |
19.52 |
731 |
16.90 |
646 |
14.64 |
583 |
12.95 |
| Other Sexual Offenses | ||||||||||
| Non-Sexual Assault | 4,640 |
109.74 |
4,795 |
111.69 |
4,973 |
114.96 |
5,339 |
121.00 |
4,722 |
104.90 |
| Abduction | 1 |
0.02 |
- |
- |
4 |
0.09 |
2 |
0.05 |
- |
- |
| Robbery | 1,049 |
24.81 |
991 |
23.08 |
948 |
21.91 |
1,076 |
24.39 |
1,079 |
23.97 |
| Total | 6,573 |
155.46 |
6,648 |
154.86 |
6,699 |
154.85 |
7,111 |
161.16 |
6,429 |
142.82 |
| PRAIRIE | ||||||||||
| Homicide | 19 |
0.89 |
10 |
0.46 |
13 |
0.59 |
12 |
0.54 |
15 |
0.66 |
| Attempted Murder | 9 |
0.42 |
18 |
0.83 |
14 |
0.64 |
18 |
0.81 |
24 |
1.05 |
| Sexual Assault & | 628 |
29.33 |
587 |
27.04 |
548 |
24.93 |
418 |
18.69 |
460 |
20.19 |
| Other Sexual Offenses | ||||||||||
| Non-Sexual Assault | 2,312 |
107.99 |
2,517 |
115.94 |
2,502 |
113.83 |
2,623 |
117.31 |
2,766 |
121.40 |
| Abduction | 2 |
0.09 |
1 |
0.05 |
2 |
0.09 |
1 |
0.04 |
3 |
0.13 |
| Robbery | 549 |
25.64 |
597 |
27.50 |
576 |
26.21 |
674 |
30.14 |
740 |
32.48 |
| Total | 3,519 |
164.36 |
3,730 |
171.81 |
3,655 |
166.29 |
3,746 |
167.54 |
4,008 |
175.91 |
| PACIFIC | ||||||||||
| Homicide | 2 |
0.15 |
5 |
0.35 |
9 |
0.61 |
14 |
0.93 |
9 |
0.58 |
| Attempted Murder | 2 |
0.15 |
7 |
0.49 |
10 |
0.68 |
7 |
0.46 |
7 |
0.45 |
| Sexual Assault & | 291 |
21.16 |
274 |
19.30 |
286 |
19.50 |
219 |
14.50 |
234 |
15.04 |
| Other Sexual Offenses | ||||||||||
| Non-Sexual Assault | 1,338 |
97.31 |
1,483 |
104.44 |
1,670 |
113.92 |
1,587 |
105.11 |
1,630 |
104.78 |
| Abduction | - |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
0.14 |
3 |
0.20 |
2 |
0.13 |
| Robbery | 316 |
22.98 |
380 |
26.76 |
442 |
30.15 |
543 |
35.96 |
510 |
32.78 |
| Total | 1,949 |
141.75 |
2,149 |
151.34 |
2,419 |
165.01 |
2,373 |
157.17 |
2,392 |
153.77 |
| TOTAL | 15,742 |
132.84 |
16,375 |
136.46 |
16,753 |
138.50 |
17,250 |
141.05 |
16,589 |
134.06 |
* Source: Uniform Crime Report
** Rate per 10,000 total male youth (aged 12 - 17 years) population
*** To accommodate for charting, rate per 1,000 total male youth (aged 12 - 17 years) population
**** - is nil or zero
Table 4.4: Total Male Youth (Aged 12 - 17 Years) Population*, Canada
| TOTAL MALE | |||||||||
| YOUTH | |||||||||
| POPULATION | 1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
||||
| Atlantic | 110,000 |
107,800 |
105,400 |
104,248 |
103,698 |
||||
| Quebec | 300,600 |
303,800 |
305,200 |
302,919 |
300,221 |
||||
| Ontario | 422,800 |
429,300 |
432,600 |
441,233 |
450,147 |
||||
| Prairie | 214,100 |
217,100 |
219,800 |
223,595 |
227,844 |
||||
| Pacific | 137,500 |
142,000 |
146,600 |
150,984 |
155,562 |
||||
| TOTAL | 1,185,000 |
1,200,000 |
1,209,600 |
1,222,979 |
1,237,472 |
||||
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Division, Demography Division
Table 4.5: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court
System* for a Violent Offense, Canada
1991/1992 |
1992/1993 |
1993/1994 |
1994/1995 |
1995/1996 |
1996/1997 |
|||||||
|
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 |
Actual Number |
Rate Per 10,000 |
| Homicide*** | 58 |
0.52 |
54 |
0.46 |
38 |
0.32 |
58 |
0.48 |
43 |
0.35 |
48 |
0.38 |
| Attempted Murder | 42 |
0.37 |
64 |
0.54 |
47 |
0.39 |
48 |
0.40 |
39 |
0.32 |
56 |
0.45 |
| Sexual Assault & Other Sexual | 1,928 |
17.15 |
2,122 |
17.91 |
2,444 |
20.36 |
2,153 |
17.80 |
1,816 |
14.80 |
1,698 |
13.72 |
| Offenses | ||||||||||||
| Non-Sexual Assault**** | 9,824 |
87.39 |
10,723 |
90.48 |
11,377 |
94.80 |
11,533 |
95.35 |
11,031 |
90.20 |
11,801 |
95.36 |
| Abduction | 16 |
0.14 |
37 |
0.31 |
25 |
0.21 |
49 |
0.41 |
57 |
0.47 |
27 |
0.22 |
| Robbery | 1,921 |
17.09 |
2,145 |
18.10 |
2,032 |
16.93 |
2,050 |
16.95 |
2,073 |
16.95 |
2,442 |
19.73 |
| Weapon | 2,386 |
21.22 |
2,439 |
20.58 |
2,566 |
21.38 |
2,510 |
20.75 |
2,115 |
17.29 |
2,019 |
16.32 |
| Other | 102 |
0.91 |
122 |
1.03 |
158 |
1.32 |
125 |
1.03 |
141 |
1.15 |
124 |
1.00 |
| TOTAL | 16,277 |
144.80 |
17,706 |
149.41 |
18,687 |
155.73 |
18,526 |
153.16 |
17,315 |
141.58 |
18,215 |
147.20 |
* Source: Youth Court Survey.
** Rate per 10,000 total male youth (aged 12 - 17 years) population
*** Offense categorizations are comprised of the following offenses:
Homicide: Murder, Manslaughter, Infanticide and Other Related; Attempted Murder: Attempted Murder; Sexual Assault and Other
Sexual Offenses: Aggravated Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault/Weapon, Sexual Assault, Rape/Indecent Assault, Other Sexual Offences; Non-Sexual Assault: Aggravated Assault, Assault With a Weapon, Cause Bodily Harm/Intent, Minor Assault, Unlawfully Cause Bodily harm, Assaulting Peace Officer, Other Assaults; Abduction: Kidnapping/Hostage Taking; Robbery: Robbery; Weapon: Dangerous Use of a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon, Other Weapons Offenses; Other: Extortion, Criminal Negligence
Note: Due to possible difference in the definitions of violent crimes, based on the Uniform Crime Report Survey and the Youth Court
Survey used in this report, the enclosed tables and charts should be compared on a general level.
**** To accommodate for charting, rate per 10,000 total male youth (aged 12 - 17 years) population
Table 4.6: Total Male Youth (Aged 12 - 17 Years) Population*, Canada
| TOTAL
MALE YOUTH POPULATION |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1,124,000 |
1,185,000 |
1,200,000 |
1,209,600 |
1,222,979 |
1,237,472 |
|
* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Branch, Demography Division
Chart 4.5A: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System For a Violent Offense Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Canada
- Due to data from only Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and British Columbia, conclusions are tentative:
Prince Edward Island: |
There has been a steady increase from 1993/94 to 1996/97. |
Manitoba: |
Slight decrease in 1994/95 was followed by a steady increase until the highest rate per 10,000 male youth in1996/97. |
British Columbia: |
Rate has increased slightly over the 4-year time span. |
Table 5.1: Male Youth Remanded into Custody* Per Month**, Select Provinces***
1993/1994 |
1994/1995 |
1995/1996 |
1996/1997 |
|||||
Rate Per |
Rate Per | Rate Per |
Rate Per |
|||||
| PROVINCE | Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
Number |
10,000 |
| Newfoundland | - |
- |
- |
- |
62 |
22.7 |
57 |
21 |
| Prince Edward Island | 2 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
8 |
| Nova Scotia | - |
- |
- |
- |
35 |
9.3 |
29 |
8 |
| Manitoba | 101 |
21 |
92 |
19 |
103 |
21 |
124 |
25 |
| British Columbia | 133 |
9 |
142 |
9 |
157 |
11 |
158 |
10 |
| Yukon
Northwest Territories |
18 9 |
150 28 |
3 7 |
25 22 |
- - |
- - |
6 - |
41 - |
* Source: Corrections Key Indicator Report for Adults and Young Offenders: Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics
** Average Month-End Admission: Data are an indication of the average month-end admission count to a facility. Averages are calculated by adding all month-end admission counts and dividing the total by the number of months for the corresponding period.
*** All available information is reported in the tables
**** - is nil or zero
Table 5.2: Male Youth (Aged 12-17 Years) Population, Select Provinces
| TOTAL MALE YOUTH | ||||
| POPULATION | 1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
| Newfoundland | 29,500 |
28,400 |
27,300 |
26,980 |
| Prince Edward Island | 6,000 |
6,000 |
6,000 |
6,005 |
| Nova Scotia | 38,400 |
38,000 |
37,800 |
38,343 |
| Manitoba | 47,900 |
48,000 |
48,300 |
48,864 |
| British Columbia | 140,100 |
145,400 |
149,700 |
154,102 |
| Yukon
Northwest Territories |
1,200 3,200 |
1,200 3,200 |
1,300 3,300 |
1,460 3,379 |
ARE MALE YOUTH GETTING MORE SERIOUS DISPOSITIONS?
Canada
- For the most serious disposition, secure custody, there was a consistent increase from 1991/92 to 1994/95. Following a slight decrease in 1995/96, the percentage returned to a higher level in 1996/97. The second most serious disposition, open custody, also revealed an increase until 1993/94. The percentage remained stable until a decrease in 1996/97. Probation revealed a consistent decrease until 1993/94 when an increase trend began. Fine and community service order and absolute discharge dispositions decreased.
Regions
- The most common disposition in each year across all regions was probation, except in 1993/94 where fine and community service order were the most common dispositions in the Ontario region.
- Examining percentage of male youth dispositions per total male youth disposition, the following appeared for each region:
Atlantic Region: Slight fluctuation in secure custody and probation dispositions. Slight but stable increase in open custody from 1991/92 – 1996/97. Slight decrease in fine and community service order dispositions returning to a higher percentage in 1996/97. Absolute discharge remained stable.
Quebec Region: Slight decrease in secure custody and n increase in 1994/95 in open custody dispositions. Slight but fairly steady increase in probation. Decrease in fine and community service order ends in 1994/95 followed by an increase. Stable rate of absolute discharge.
Ontario Region: The secure custody rate remained stable until a slight increase in 1994/95. Relatively stable open custody rate. The probation rate showed a marked increase in 1994/95 and remained stable in subsequent years. A marked decrease in 1994/95 and the following years in fine and community service order dispositions. Stable rate of absolute discharge.
Prairie Region: Slight increase in secure and open custody dispositions. Slight and consistent decrease in probation until 1994/95 when a slight increase trend began. Slight decrease in fine and community service and absolute discharge dispositions.
Pacific Region: Steady increase in secure and open custody dispositions. Slight and consistent decrease in probation until 1994-95, followed by a slight increase. Decrease in fine and community service order and absolute discharge dispositions.
Table 6.1: Male Youth Disposition*, Canada
| DISPOSITION** | 1991/1992 |
1992/1993 |
1993/1994 |
1994/1995 |
1995/1996 |
1996/1997 |
| Secure Custody | 9,014 |
9,785 |
10,033 |
10,521 |
9,671 |
10,396 |
| Detention for Treatment | 10 |
3 |
4 |
8 |
3 |
- |
| Open Custody | 11,110 |
11,862 |
12,587 |
11,800 |
11,541 |
11,385 |
| Probation | 25,721 |
25,437 |
24,475 |
28,675 |
28,395 |
30,047 |
| Fine | 5,091 |
4,641 |
4,543 |
3,786 |
3,545 |
3,043 |
| Compensation | 222 |
225 |
175 |
136 |
137 |
162 |
| Pay Purchaser | 34 |
71 |
81 |
31 |
20 |
24 |
| Compensation (Kind) | 21 |
11 |
3 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
| Community Service Order | 7,573 |
7,942 |
8,208 |
3,743 |
3,821 |
3,531 |
| Restitution | 147 |
140 |
129 |
94 |
116 |
91 |
| Prob./Seizure/Forfeit | 64 |
81 |
144 |
18 |
25 |
36 |
| Absolute Discharge | 2,206 |
2,053 |
1,930 |
1,745 |
1,543 |
1,062 |
| Other | 1,943 |
2,330 |
2,304 |
798 |
892 |
1,196 |
| TOTAL | 63,156 |
64,581 |
64,616 |
61,360 |
59,716 |
60,979 |
* Source: Youth Court Survey
** Disposition is the most serious disposition for a person or a case. The dispositions above are ordered from most to least serious. If the disposition with the
highest priority is a fine, compensation on pay purchases, and there is a combination of these, the disposition with the largest dollar value is selected as the most significant. In the event that multiple charges result in multiple custody orders, the highest priority is assigned to the largest custody order. The same situation applies in the case of multiple probation orders.
*** - is nil or zero
Table 6.2: Percentage of Male Youth Disposition Per Total Male
Youth Dispositions*, Canada
| % OF DISPOSITION | 1991/1992 |
1992/1993 |
1993/1994 |
1994/1995 |
1995/1996 |
1996/1997 |
| Secure Custody | 14.0 |
15.2 |
15.5 |
17.2 |
16.2 |
17.0 |
| Open Custody | 17.6 |
18.4 |
19.5 |
19.2 |
19.3 |
18.7 |
| Probation | 40.7 |
39.4 |
37.9 |
46.7 |
47.6 |
49.3 |
| Fine & Community Service Order | 20.5 |
19.5 |
19.7 |
12.3 |
12.3 |
10.8 |
| Absolute Discharge | 3.5 |
3.2 |
3.0 |
2.8 |
2.6 |
1.7 |
* Source: Youth Court Survey
** Both community service order and fine contributed to the decrease
Chart 6.2A: Percentage of Male Youth Dispositions Per Total Male Youth Dispositions, Canada
Table 6.3: Male Youth Disposition*, Regions
| DISPOSITION** | 1991/ 1992 | %*** |
1992/ 1993 |
% |
1993/ 1994 |
% |
1994/ 1995 |
% |
1995/ 1996 |
% |
1996/ 1997 |
% |
| ATLANTIC | ||||||||||||
| Secure Custody | 915 |
13 |
884 |
15 |
782 |
13 |
773 |
13 |
681 |
12 |
757 |
13 |
| Open Custody | 1,414 |
21 |
1,267 |
21 |
1,262 |
21 |
1,333 |
23 |
1,286 |
23 |
1,392 |
23 |
| Probation | 3,741 |
56 |
3,220 |
54 |
3,277 |
55 |
3,154 |
54 |
3,099 |
55 |
3,217 |
54 |
| Fine & CSO**** | 586 |
9 |
447 |
7 |
435 |
7 |
413 |
7 |
366 |
6 |
519 |
9 |
| Absolute Discharge | 158 |
2 |
138 |
2 |
147 |
3 |
164 |
3 |
129 |
2 |
100 |
2 |
| QUEBEC | ||||||||||||
| Secure Custody | 1,678 |
22 |
1,531 |
19 |
1,568 |
19 |
1,548 |
18 |
1,181 |
15 |
1,473 |
17 |
| Open Custody | 969 |
12 |
1,124 |
14 |
1,074 |
13 |
1,257 |
18 |
1,013 |
13 |
1,072 |
13 |
| Probation | 3,741 |
48 |
4,014 |
49 |
4,131 |
51 |
4,264 |
50 |
4,106 |
54 |
4,669 |
55 |
| Fine & CSO | 1,154 |
15 |
1,166 |
14 |
1,003 |
12 |
1,117 |
13 |
1,184 |
15 |
1,265 |
15 |
| Absolute Discharge | 108 |
1 |
116 |
1 |
111 |
1 |
100 |
1 |
113 |
1 |
86 |
1 |
| ONTARIO | ||||||||||||
| Secure Custody | 3,325 |
16 |
3,803 |
16 |
4,075 |
16 |
4,716 |
21 |
4,666 |
20 |
4,719 |
21 |
| Open Custody | 4,888 |
23 |
5,370 |
23 |
5,984 |
24 |
5,170 |
23 |
5,467 |
24 |
5,230 |
23 |
| Probation | 5,745 |
27 |
5,947 |
25 |
5,739 |
23 |
10,900 |
47 |
10,632 |
47 |
11,322 |
50 |
| Fine & CSO | 4,948 |
23 |
5,251 |
23 |
6,162 |
27 |
1,156 |
5 |
1,064 |
4 |
846 |
4 |
| Absolute Discharge | 947 |
4 |
1,051 |
5 |
1,009 |
4 |
868 |
4 |
727 |
3 |
490 |
2 |
| PRAIRIE | ||||||||||||
| Secure Custody | 2,659 |
13 |
2,935 |
15 |
2,942 |
15 |
2,846 |
16 |
2,545 |
14 |
2,750 |
17 |
| Open Custody | 2,763 |
13 |
2,788 |
14 |
2,903 |
15 |
2,798 |
16 |
2,665 |
15 |
2,441 |
15 |
| Probation | 8,425 |
41 |
8,121 |
41 |
7,793 |
40 |
7,018 |
39 |
7,321 |
42 |
7,312 |
45 |
| Fine & CSO | 5,375 |
26 |
5,117 |
25 |
4,666 |
24 |
4,361 |
24 |
4,261 |
24 |
3,585 |
22 |
| Absolute Discharge | 742 |
4 |
490 |
2 |
498 |
3 |
418 |
2 |
411 |
2 |
282 |
2 |
| PACIFIC | ||||||||||||
| Secure Custody | 437 |
7 |
632 |
9 |
664 |
11 |
638 |
11 |
598 |
10 |
697 |
12 |
| Open Custody | 1,076 |
17 |
1,304 |
19 |
1,364 |
22 |
1,242 |
21 |
1,110 |
19 |
1,250 |
21 |
| Probation | 4,069 |
63 |
4,135 |
59 |
3,535 |
56 |
3,339 |
56 |
3,237 |
57 |
3,527 |
59 |
| Fine & CSO | 601 |
9 |
602 |
9 |
485 |
8 |
478 |
8 |
491 |
8 |
350 |
6 |
| Absolute Discharge | 251 |
4 |
258 |
4 |
165 |
3 |
195 |
3 |
163 |
2 |
104 |
2 |
* Source: Youth Court Survey
** Disposition is the most serious disposition for a person or a case. The dispositions above are ordered from most to least serious. If the disposition with the highest priority is a fine, compensation on pay purchases, and there is a combination of these, the disposition with the largest dollar value is selected as the most significant. In the event that multiple charges result in multiple custody orders, the highest priority is assigned to the largest custody order. The same situation applies in the case of multiple probation orders.
*** Percentage of male youth dispositions per total male youth dispositions
**** CSO = Community Service Order
Chart 6.3A: Percentage of Male Youth Dispositions Per Total Male Youth Dispositions, Atlantic Region
Chart 6.3B: Percentage of Male Youth Dispositions Per Total Male Youth Dispositions, Quebec Region
Chart 6.3C: Percentage of Male Youth Dispositions Per Total Male Youth Dispositions, Ontario Region
Chart 6.3D: Percentage of Male Youth Dispositions Per Total Male Youth Dispositions, Prairie Region
Chart 6.3E: Percentage of Male Youth Dispositions Per Total Male Youth Dispositions, Pacific Region
HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MALE YOUTH TRANSFERRED TO ADULT COURT?
- From 1991/92 – 1996/97 there has been an increase in the number of male youth transferred to adult court in Canada.
- From 1992/93 to 1994/95 the number of male youths transferred to adult court more than doubled. A significant decrease in 1995/96 was followed by an increase in 1996/97.
- Since 1991/92, the Prairie region has undergone the largest increase peaking in 1994/95. A significant decrease in 1995/96 was followed by a slight increase in 1996/97.
- The Atlantic region had the least number of male youths transferred to adult court over the 6-year span.
- The average age remained stable from 1991/92 to 1996/97 (approximately 16.3).
- The majority (87%) of youth transferred to adult court from 1991/92 to 1996/97 have been 16 years of age or older.
* See Appendix E for additional research findings
Table 7.1: Male Youth Transferred to Adult Court*, Regions & Canada
1991/ 1992 |
1992/ 1993 |
1993/ 1994 |
1994/ 1995 |
1995/ 1996 |
1996/ 1997 |
|
| Atlantic | 5 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
- |
- |
| Quebec | 25 |
11 |
5 |
11 |
11 |
26 |
| Ontario | 12 |
19 |
21 |
25 |
15 |
12 |
| Prairie | 24 |
15 |
60 |
70 |
38 |
40 |
| Pacific | 2 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
6 |
9 |
| Canada Total** | 68 (16.6)*** |
50 (16.2) |
94 (16.3) |
117(16.3) |
70 (16.1) |
87(16.4) |
* Source: Youth Court Survey
** Average excluding male youth aged <12 or >17
*** Average age of youth transferred to adult court
Table 7.2: Male Youth Transferred to Adult Court* by Age, Canada
| Total | <12 | 12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
>17 |
Unknown |
|
| 1991/1992 | 68 |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
4 |
12 |
45 |
6 |
- |
| 1992/1993 | 50 |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
3 |
5 |
31 |
8 |
1 |
| 1993/1994 | 94 |
- |
- |
1 |
2 |
9 |
15 |
60 |
6 |
1 |
| 1994/1995 | 117 |
- |
3 |
- |
3 |
9 |
37 |
62 |
3 |
- |
| 1995/1996 | 70 |
1 |
- |
- |
3 |
6 |
11 |
47 |
2 |
- |
| 1996/1997 | 87 |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
10 |
28 |
43 |
4 |
1 |
| Canada Total | 486 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
12 |
41 |
108 |
288 |
29 |
3 |
* Source: Youth Court Survey
Chart 7.1: Male Youth Transferred to Adult Court, Canada 1991/92 – 1996-97
EXPLANATION AND DEFINITION OF 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 approximately 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 and expanded in terms of the information collected. 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. YOUTH COURT SURVEY
- National database of statistical information on charges, cases and persons involving accused who are 12 to 17 years of age (up to the 18th birthday). It represents a census of federal statute charges (Criminal Code, Narcotic Control Act, Food and Drugs Act, Young Offender Act, and other federal statutes) heard in youth courts, excluding appeals, reviews, provincial statutes, and municipal by-law infractions.
- Basic charge data are used to ‘create’ cases, a case being all the charges against one young person that have the same date of first appearance.
- Data is collected from all youth courts in Canada and is intended to achieve complete coverage of charges dealt with by youth courts.
4. CORRECTIONS KEY INDICATOR REPORT FOR ADULTS AND YOUNG OFFENDERS
- Data is quite general in nature and is primarily used to monitor correctional population trends.
- Allows for historical comparisons and provides for some indication of current trends and demands.
5. CANADIAN CENSUS
- Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Branch, Demography Division (Final Postcensal Estimates for 1991, 1992; Updated Postcensal Estimates for 1993, 1994, 1995; and Preliminal Postcensal for 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 1991 and 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 Youth Court Survey). Please refer to the original source if further clarification is needed on any definition.
REPORT: Serious Violent Offenses and Offenders in Youth Court
Naomi Lee and Tim Leonard, December 1995
- In their research on serious violent youth offenders, Lee and Leonard concluded that "[o]ffenses involving accused under fifteen years of age accounted for only 17% of the charges of serious violence (15% for males and 2% for females). One-fifth of the charges related to offenses that occurred when the accused was fifteen, 26% of offenses at age sixteen and 35% of offenses at age seventeen. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-old accused, therefore, accounted for the bulk (62%) of the charges" (1995:9).
REPORTS: Serious Violent Offenses and Offenders in Youth Court
Naomi Lee and Tim Leonard, December 1995
A Profile of the Juvenile Justice System in Canada
Sharon Moyer, November 1996
- There is widespread consensus among the Canadian populace and research that large portions of young offenders are perpetrators of the most serious forms of violence. This is evident in the extensive media coverage afforded to the topic. However, according to Lee and Leonard (1995), these accounts "belie the fact...that the phenomenon of serious youth violence is actually so infrequent that it tends to elude statistical analysis" (1). Similarly, the research of Moyer (1996:2) concludes that "[e]ven a cursory look at the type of offenses which result in system involvement shows that the vast majority of juvenile criminal behavior involved is not, by any definition, very serious in nature" (1996:2).
- Lee and Leonard (1995:4) state that "[t]o put this base into perspective it is worth noting that during the reference period, in the nine jurisdictions included in the study, approximately three million individuals were at risk of being charged under the YOA, that is, they were between the ages of 12 and 17 years at some time during the reference period. The estimated number of young persons identified for this study, therefore, represents a mere 0.06% of the population at risk, and their charges relating to serious offenses are approximately 0.3% of the 900,000 charges of all types dealt with by youth courts of the nine jurisdictions in the same period."
REPORT: Serious Violent Offenses and Offenders in Youth Court
Naomi Lee and Tim Leonard, December 1995
- Only a small fraction of young persons (males and females) charged with serious violent offenses were transferred to adult court.
- Transfer orders were issued by youth courts in more cases that did not involve violent offenses than in cases that did.
- Youth who were transferred tend to be of the upper limit of the age jurisdiction of the YOA.
- Youth who were transferred tend to have rather high charge to person ratios in their youth court histories. They share these characteristics, however, with many who remain in the youth justice system and receive dispositions under the Act. The data signal a need for more detailed research into the working and effects of the transfer provisions of the YOA (50).
Youth Court Survey
- A case is one or more charges against a young person which are presented in court on the same date. Basic charge data are used to ‘create’ cases, a case being all the charges against a young person that have the same date of first appearance. Identifiers used to link charges to cases are the coded name, sex, date of birth, date of first court appearance and court location code. This report uses case counts as the unit of analysis.
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 or 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 end up being charged with possession of stolen goods if, for instance, the police have better 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.
Corrections Key Indicator Report
The data used in this report are the average month-end admission count to a facility. Averages are calculated by adding all month-end admission counts and dividing the total number of months for the corresponding period. Actual in counts includes all youths on remand and temporary detention, sentenced offenders and other young offenders who are legally required to be at a facility and are present at the time the count is taken.
