Research Reports

Correctional Service of Canada - Male Young Offenders in Canada: Revised Edition

Roberta Lynn Sinclair & Roger Boe
Research Branch
Correctional Service Canada
September, 1998

SUMMARY

The focus of this report is a summary and presentation of recent trends involving male young offenders in Canada. It is an update to the original report, B-22, published in May, 1998. This version includes 1997 Uniform Crime Report data. The original report was written in response to a special request, and supplemented a presentation for the Heads of Corrections.

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

1. Has there been an increase in male youth charged by police, 1992-1997?

• There has been a consistent decrease at the national level.
• By offense category, there was a slight increase in violent crimes until 1995 when a decrease trend began ending with the 1997 rate equal to the 1992 rate. Property crimes decreased significantly and other offenses decreased until 1994, remaining relatively stable thereafter. Drug offenses increased until 1994, remaining stable at approximately 36 per 10,000 male youth.
• At the regional level, both the Prairie and Pacific regions experienced a consistent decrease. The rates remained fairly stable for the other regions. The 1997 rates were consistently lower than the 1992 rates.

2. Has there been an increase in male youth processed through the youth court system, 1991/92-1996/97?

• There has been a decrease at the national level.
• There was a consistent decrease of property crimes and other crimes, while crimes of violence increased slightly until the trend began to decrease in 1994/95. Young Offenders Act offenses peaked in 1993/94 and remained stable through to 1996/97. Following 1992/93, drug offences consistently increased until 1996/97.
• All regions experienced a decrease, except the Atlantic and Quebec regions which increased slightly from 1992/93 to 1996/97.

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 1995/96, increasing slightly in 1996/97 to 16.

4. Are male youth getting more violent?

• The Uniform Crime Report Survey (UCR) data suggests that the national rate of violent crime by male youth peaked in 1995 and decreased in subsequent years, remaining relatively stable at a rate similar to 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 to its lowest level, and an increase in 1996/97 to slightly above the 1991/92 rate.
• Youth court statistics indicate relative stability among the violent offenses over the four-year period. Non-sexual assault increased from 1991/92 to the highest level in 1994/95 and the second highest level in 1996/97.

5. 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 1992/93 to 1996/97.
• Overall stability in Manitoba from 1992/93 was followed by an increase to the highest rate per 10,000 male youth in 1996/97.
• British Columbia increased slightly over the 5-year span.

6. Are male youth getting more serious dispositions?

• There has been a consistent increase in secure custody dispositions. Open custody increased until 1993/94, followed by a slight decrease in 1996/97. Probation decreased until 1993/94 when an increase trend began. Fine and community service order dispositions decreased in 1993/94 to 1994/95, before leveling off. Absolute discharge dispositions decreased from 1991/92 to 1996/97.
• Dispositions remained relatively stable 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 and open 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.

7. Has there been an increase in the number of male youth transferred to adult court?

• There has been an increase in the number of male youth transferred to adult court from 1991/92 to 1996/97. Following a decrease trend from 1991/92, the number of youth transferred to adult court more than doubled in 1994/95, fluctuating until an increase in 1996/97.
• 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.

NOTE

• The unit of analyses in the Youth Court Survey is cases processed and in the Uniform Crime Report Survey is either incidents or persons charged. 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 sources for further clarification.
• The Youth Court Survey and Corrections Key Indicator Report data are presented for fiscal years. The Uniform Crime Report (UCR) 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 declined.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• SUMMARY
• NOTE
• LIST OF TABLES
• LIST OF CHARTS
• RESEARCH QUESTIONS
  • QUESTION 1: HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN MALE YOUTH CHARGED BY THE POLICE, 1992 - 1997?
  • 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

LIST OF TABLES

• 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*, Canada
• Table 2.2: Total Male Youth (Aged 12-17 Years) Population, Canada
• Table 2.3: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System*, Regions
• 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 Region
• 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

LIST OF CHARTS

• 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 Age, Canada
• Chart 3.1B: Male Youth Processed Through Youth Court, Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, by Age, Canada
• 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
• 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 7.1A: Male Youth Transferred to Adult Court, Canada 1991/92 – 1996/97

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1: HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN MALE YOUTH CHARGED BY THE POLICE, 1992 - 1997?

Canada

• At the national level, there has been a consistent decrease in male youth charged by police.
• By offense, property crimes had the most significant and consistent decrease trend. Crimes of violence increased slightly until 1995, decreased in 1996 and 1997 with the 1997 rate equal to the 1992 rate. Drug offenses increased until 1994 when the rate stabilized at approximately 36 per 10,000 male youth. Other offenses decreased gradually from 1992 to 1994, and remained relatively stable in subsequent years.

Regions

• Overall, the 1997 regional rates are notably lower than the 1992 rates.
• In the Atlantic region there was a decrease from 1992 to 1995, followed by a slight increase in 1996 before dropping to the lowest rate in 1997.
• The Quebec region experienced a decrease from 1992 to 1994, followed by a slight increase from 1995 to 1996 and a decrease in 1997 to the lowest rate in the 6-year span.
• The trend in the Ontario region suggests the greatest fluctuation. A significant decrease from 1992 to 1993 was followed by a slight increase from 1993 to 1995. A notable decrease in 1996 was followed by the lowest rate in 1997.
• Both the Prairie and the Pacific regions consistently decreased in the rate of male youth charged by police, 1992 to 1997.
• Over the 6-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		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
Crimes of Violence	15,742	132.8	16,375	136.4	16,753	138.5	17,250	141.0	16,589	134.0	16,613	132.8
Property Crimes	66,591	561.9	59,242	493.6	54,784	452.9	52,945	432.9	51,242	413.9	46,234	369.5
Drugs***	2,186	18.4	2,959	24.7	4,176	37.2	4,494	36.7	4,796	38.7	4,393	35.1
Other****	27,876	235.2	27,030	225.2	25,962	214.6	26,696	218.3	26,631	215.1	26,802	214.2
TOTAL	112,395	948.4	105,606	880.1	101,675	840.6	101,385	829.0	99,258	801.8	94,042	751.7

* 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

1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997
1,185,000	1,200,000	1,209,600	1,222,979	1,237,993	1,251,427

* 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

 

Chart 1.1C: Male Youth Charged by Police by Offense Category Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Canada

 

Table 1.3: Male Youth Charged by Police*, Regions

	1992		1993		1994		1995		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
ATLANTIC
Crimes of Violence	1,152	104.7	1,346	124.9	1,363	129.3	1,324	127.0	1,259	121.3	1,121	109.0
Property Crimes	5,784	525.8	5,264	488.3	4,974	471.9	4,663	447.3	4,868	469.1	4,082	397.0
Drugs***	112	10.2	150	13.9	227	21.5	223	21.4	319	30.7	295	28.7
Other****	2,579	234.5	2,554	236.9	2,511	238.2	2,493	239.1	2,615	252.0	2,435	236.8
TOTAL	9,627	875.2	9,314	864.0	9,075	861.0	8,703	834.8	9,061	873.8	7,933	771.5
QUEBEC
Crimes of Violence	2,549	84.8	2,502	82.4	2,617	85.7	2,696	89.0	2,501	83.3	2,546	85.9
Property Crime	11,584	385.4	9,314	306.6	8,179	268.0	7,889	260.4	8,271	275.4	6,869	231.7
Drugs	533	17.7	936	30.8	1,272	41.7	1,286	42.5	1,445	48.1	1,398	47.2
Other	3,403	113.2	3,059	100.7	2,642	86.6	2,861	94.4	2,926	97.4	2,819	95.1
TOTAL	18,069	601.1	15,811	520.4	14,710	482.0	14,732	486.3	15,143	504.2	13,632	459.9
ONTARIO
Crimes of Violence	6,573	155.5	6,648	154.9	6,699	154.9	7,111	161.2	6,429	142.8	6,796	147.8
Property Crimes	21,581	510.4	19,492	454.0	17,974	415.5	18,086	409.9	16,609	369.0	14,915	324.3
Drugs	731	17.3	945	22.0	1,427	33.0	1,718	38.9	1,791	39.8	1,551	33.7
Other	10,936	258.7	10,709	249.5	10,663	246.5	10,647	241.3	9,940	220.8	9,407	204.5
TOTAL	39,821	941.8	37,794	800.4	36,763	849.8	37,562	851.3	34,769	772.4	32,669	710.2
PRAIRIE
Crimes of Violence	3,519	164.4	3,730	171.8	3,655	166.3	3,746	167.5	4,008	175.8	3,836	165.0
Property Crimes	18,475	862.9	16,487	759.4	15,349	698.3	14,435	645.6	14,054	616.6	13,749	591.5
Drugs	306	14.3	430	19.8	532	24.2	563	25.2	632	27.7	643	27.7
Other	8,203	383.1	7,914	364.5	7,187	327.0	7,685	343.7	8,229	361.0	8,956	385.3
TOTAL	30,503	1,424.7	28,561	1,315.6	26,723	1,215.8	26,429	1,182.0	26,923	1,181.2	27,184	1,169.5
PACIFIC
Crimes of Violence	1,949	141.7	2,149	151.3	2,419	165.0	2,373	157.2	2,392	153.5	2,314	144.8
Property Crimes	9,167	666.7	8,685	611.6	8,308	566.7	7,872	521.4	7,440	477.6	6,619	414.3
Drugs	504	36.7	498	35.1	718	49.0	704	46.6	609	39.1	506	31.7
Other	2,755	200.4	2,794	196.8	2,959	201.8	3,010	199.4	2,921	187.5	3,185	199.4
TOTAL	14,375	1,045.5	14,126	994.8	14,404	982.5	13,959	924.5	13,362	857.7	12,624	790.2
TOTAL	112,395	948.4	105,606	880.1	101,675	840.6	101,385	829.0	99,258	801.8	94,042	751.5

* 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

Region	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997
Atlantic	110,000	107,800	105,400	104,248	103,774	102,825
Quebec	300,600	303,800	305,200	302,919	300,320	296,425
Ontario	422,800	429,300	432,600	441,233	450,170	459,965
Prairie	214,100	217,100	219,800	223,595	227,938	232,446
Pacific	137,500	142,000	146,600	150,984	155,791	159,766
TOTAL	1,185,000	1,200,000	1,209,600	1,222,979	1,237,993	1,251,427

* 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

QUESTION 2: HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN MALE YOUTH PROCESSED THROUGH THE YOUTH COURT SYSTEM, 1992/93 - 1996/97?

Canada

• Overall, there has been a decrease.
• By specific offense, crimes of violence increased slightly from 1991/92 to 1993/94 followed by a decrease trend until returning to a slightly higher rate in 1996/97. Young Offenders Act offenses increased until 1993/94 and remained relatively stable through to 1996/97. The only consistent decrease trends from 1992/93 to 1996/97 occurred in property crimes (significant) and other crimes (except for an increase in 1995/96). After a slight decrease from 1991/92 to 1992/93, drug offenses consistently increased.

Regions

• Both the Atlantic and Quebec regions increased from 1992/93 to 1996/97. The other regions decreased. The most significant decrease was in the Prairie region, followed by the Pacific and Ontario regions.
• Over the 5-year span, the Prairie region had the highest rate per 10,000 male youth population, followed by the Ontario, Atlantic, Pacific and Quebec regions.

Table 2.1: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System*, 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
Crimes of Violence	16,277	144.8	17,706	149.4	18,687	155.7	18,526	153.2	17,315	141.6	18,215	147.1
Property Crimes	55,870	497.1	52,060	439.3	48,960	408.0	44,287	366.1	43,050	352.0	42,453	342.9
Drugs***	1,894	16.9	1,985	16.8	2,726	22.7	4,002	33.1	4,212	34.4	4,747	38.3
Other****	14,599	129.9	14,986	126.5	15,098	125.8	14,500	119.9	15,762	128.9	14,258	115.2
Young Offenders Act*****	7,163	63.7	7,675	64.8	8,587	71.6	8,270	68.4	8,790	71.9	8,440	68.2
TOTAL	95,803	852.3	94,412	796.7	94,058	783.8	89,585	740.6	89,129	728.8	88,113	711.7

* 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

1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
1,124,000	1,185,000	1,200,000	1,209,600	1,222,979	1,237,993

* 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	134.9
Property Crimes	4,243	385.7	4,088	379.2	3,923	372.2	3,840	368.4	4,086	393.7
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	76.2
Atlantic – Total	7,078	643.5	7,062	655.1	6,918	656.4	6,829	655.1	7,522	724.8
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	161.8
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	352.4
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	196.0
Property Crimes	16,347	763.5	15,184	699.4	13,404	609.8	12,947	579.0	12,338	541.3
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	191.4
Young Offenders Act	3,080	143.9	3,360	154.8	3,154	143.5	3,117	139.4	2,909	127.6
Prairie – Total	29,132	1,360.7	28,820	1,327.5	26,493	1,205.3	26,209	1,172.2	24,736	1,085.2
PACIFIC
Crimes of Violence	1,752	127.4	1,625	114.4	1,705	116.3	1,714	113.5	1,874	120.3
Property Crimes	6,102	443.8	4,792	337.5	4,434	302.5	4,163	275.7	4,204	269.8
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	62.3
Young Offenders Act	1,046	76.1	1,134	79.9	1,064	72.6	1,101	72.9	1,289	82.7
Pacific – Total	10,233	744.2	8,848	623.1	8,575	585.0	8,432	558.5	8,782	563.7
TOTAL	94,412	796.7	94,058	783.8	89,585	740.6	89,129	728.8	88,113	711.7

* Source: Youth Court Statistics

** 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.

*** 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

 

Table 2.4: Total Male Youth (Aged 12 - 17 Years) Population, Regions*

	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
Atlantic	110,000	107,800	105,400	104,248	103,774
Quebec	300,600	303,800	305,200	302,919	300,320
Ontario	422,800	429,300	432,600	441,233	450,170
Prairie	214,100	217,100	219,800	223,595	227,938
Pacific	137,500	142,000	146,600	150,984	155,791
TOTAL	1,185,000	1,200,000	1,209,600	1,222,979	1,237,993

* 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

QUESTION 3: 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 with the number of youth processed increasing as age increased.
• The mean age of 15.5 was consistent from 1992/93 to 1995/96, increasing slightly in 1996/97 to 16.

Regions

• In almost all regions, the greatest number of male youth processed through youth court by principle charge were 17 years of age. The Pacific region (1996/97) was the exception, where the greatest number of male youth processed were16 year olds.
• 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: From 1992/93 to 1996/97 there was a steady increase in the 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 to 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 the number and age of males processed through youth court from 1992/93 to 1996/97, except for 12 year olds where a slight increase occurred.

Pacific Region: There was a decrease in number and in 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
1991/1992
Crimes of Violence	5	548	1,252	2,171	3,289	4,066	4,539	52	355
Property Crimes	26	1,818	4,363	8,274	11,766	14,400	14,352	143	728
Other Crimes	1	193	647	1,428	2,505	3,908	5,180	512	225
Drugs	-	1	26	93	288	509	941	4	32
Young Offenders Act	-	53	319	763	1,420	1,660	2,123	747	78
1991/1992 TOTAL	32	2,613	6,607	12,729	19,268	24,543	27,135	1,458	1,418
Per 10,000 Male Youth		138.6	355.0	674.6	1,022.1	1,295.8	1,484.0
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 Youth		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	802	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		142.7	327.8	594.8	890.0	1,149.4	1,222.7
1995-1996
Crimes of Violence	19	917	1,820	2,899	3,637	4,189	4,544	67	308
Property Crimes	14	1,684	3,691	6,411	9,142	11,008	10,587	112	388
Drugs	-	21	94	370	826	1,314	1,664	9	26
Young Offenders Act	1	94	425	1,009	1,751	2,142	2,372	569	69
Other Federal Statutes	5	309	871	1,717	2,702	3,831	4,743	541	217
1995/1996 TOTAL	39	3,025	6,901	12,406	18,058	22,484	23,910	1,298	1,008
Per 10,000 Male Youth		148.7	338.0	601.5	875.9	1,127.6	1,193.2
1996/1997
Crimes of Violence	-	946	1,826	2,804	3,662	4,188	4,438	63	288
Property Crimes	-	1,644	3,530	6,384	9,291	10,722	10,394	83	405
Other Crimes	-	335	810	1,615	2,845	3,601	4,436	401	215
Drugs	-	35	150	438	934	1,373	1,770	18	29
Young Offenders Act	-	94	438	1,106	1,916	2,143	2,196	483	64
1996/1997 TOTAL	-	3,054	6,754	12,347	18,648	22,027	23,234	1,048	1,001
Per 10,000 Male Youth		148.3	329.1	598.0	896.0	1,059.0	1,136.5
TOTAL	141	17,162	40,377	75,375	111,610	139,977	151,286	7,948	7,223

* 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

	12	13	14	15	16	17
1991	188,500	186,100	188,700	188,500	189,400	182,800
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	206,016	205,233	206,198	208,125	207,990	204,431

* 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	2	210	541	890	1,373	1,812	1,948	50	3
1996/1997	-	280	599	1,166	1,516	1,938	1,939	54	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	-	127	450	1,151	2,000	2,608	3,130	66	2
1996/1997	-	119	437	1,201	2,203	3,012	3,521	83	6
ONTARIO
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	33	1,400	3,174	5,468	7,724	9,308	9,639	410	969
1996/1997	-	1,448	3,002	5,215	7,904	8,573	9,067	373	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	4	1,005	2,070	3,615	5,186	6,714	6,965	619	31
1996/1997	-	982	2,018	3,490	5,093	6,212	6,449	441	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	-	283	666	1,282	1,775	2,042	2,228	153	3
1996/1997	-	225	698	1,275	1,932	2,292	2,258	97	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

**** 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.

***** 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

 

QUESTION 4: ARE MALE YOUTH GETTING MORE VIOLENT?

Canada

Uniform Crime Report

• Nationally, the rate peaked in 1995 before returning to a slightly lower rate in 1996 and 1997.
• The homicide rate decreased significantly from 1992 to 1993, and since 1994 the rate has remained fairly stable at approximately 0.40 per 10,000 male youth until a decrease in 1997. The 1997 rate is lower than the 1992 rate. The attempted murder rate fluctuated from 1992 to 1996, before reaching its lowest rate in 1997. There was a steady decrease in sexual assault and other sexual offenses over the 6-year span. There was a steady increase in non-sexual assault rates from 1992 to 1995, followed by a decline in 1996 and 1997 to slightly above the 1992 rate. The rate of abduction fluctuated, however the variations are small. Overall, robbery rates increased from 1992 to 1997.
• Across the 6-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 decrease trend until 1996/97 when the rate increased to slightly above the 1991/92 rate.
• Overall, the homicide rate decreased from 1991/92 to 1996/97. The attempted murder rate peaked in 1992/93 and experienced slight fluctuations in subsequent years. A steady decrease in sexual assault and other sexual offenses followed the highest rate in 1993/94. Non-sexual assault increased from 1991/92 to its peak level in 1994/95. The rate decreased in 1995/96 before returning to the second highest level in 1996/97. A decrease was apparent in weapon offenses, while the robbery rate increased slightly over the 6 year span. The abduction rate increased slightly in 1992/93 and remained relatively stable.

Regions

Uniform Crime Report

• Although there was regional fluctuation, no major trends were evident.
• An increase in the Atlantic region from 1992 to 1994 was followed by a decrease from 1995 to 1997.
• An increase in the Quebec region from 1993 was followed by a slight decrease in 1996 and an increase in 1997.
• The rate in Ontario decreased from 1992 to 1994. A slight increase in 1995 was followed by a marked decrease in 1996. A slight increase in 1997 followed the decrease, but the rate remained considerably lower than the 1992 level.
• 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 occurring in 1996.
• In the Pacific region there was an increase until 1994 followed by a decrease trend.
• 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		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	49	0.41	33	0.27	48	0.40	49	0.40	47	0.38	42	0.34
Attempted Murder	66	0.56	61	0.51	103	0.85	81	0.66	81	0.65	51	0.41
Sexual Assault & Other Sexual Offenses***	2,231	18.83	2,245	18.71	2,036	16.83	1,709	13.97	1,634	13.20	1,570	12.55
Non-Sexual Assault****	10,807	91.20 9.1	11,458	95.48 9.5	11,958	98.86 9.9	12,400	101.39 10.1	11,827	95.53 9.6	11,811	94.38 9.4
Abduction	3	0.03	2	0.02	8	0.07	6	0.05	5	0.04	3	0.02
Robbery	2,586	21.83	2,576	21.47	2,600	21.50	3,005	24.57	2,995	24.20	3,136	25.06
TOTAL	15,742	132.84	16,375	136.46	16,753	138.50	17,250	141.05	16,589	134.00	16,613	132.75

* 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

1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997
1,185,000	1,200,000	1,209,600	1,222,979	1,237,993	1,251,427

* 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		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
ATLANTIC
Homicide	3	0.3	3	0.3	2	0.2	4	0.4	1	0.1	-	-
Attempted Murder	-	-	1	0.1	-	-	1	0.1	-	-	3	0.3
Sexual Assault & Other Sexual Offenses	235	21.4	271	25.1	220	20.9	198	19.0	167	16.1	152	14.8
Non-Sexual Assault	847	77.0	994	92.2	1,055	100.1	1,043	100.1	1,034	99.6	905	88.0
Abduction	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Robbery	67	6.1	77	7.1	86	8.2	78	7.5	57	5.5	61	5.9
TOTAL	1,152	104.7	1,346	124.9	1,363	129.3	1,324	127.0	1,259	121.3	1,121	109.0
QUEBEC
Homicide	11	0.4	7	0.2	13	0.4	6	0.2	4	0.1	1	0.0
Attempted Murder	31	1.0	19	0.6	47	1.5	20	0.7	23	0.8	10	0.3
Sexual Assault & Other Sexual Offenses	232	7.7	275	9.1	251	8.2	228	7.5	190	6.3	173	5.8
Non-Sexual Assault	1,670	55.6	1,669	54.9	1,758	57.6	1,808	59.7	1,675	55.8	1,691	57.1
Abduction	-	-	1	0.1	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0.0
Robbery	605	20.1	531	17.6	548	17.9	634	20.9	609	20.3	670	22.6
TOTAL	2,549	84.3	2,502	82.4	2,617	85.8	2,696	89.0	2,501	83.3	2,546	85.9
ONTARIO
Homicide	14	0.3	8	0.2	11	0.3	13	0.3	18	0.4	8	0.2
Attempted Murder	24	0.6	16	0.4	32	0.7	35	0.8	27	0.6	10	0.2
Sexual Assault & Other Sexual Offenses	845	20.0	838	19.5	731	16.9	646	14.6	583	12.9	598	13.0
Non-Sexual Assault	4,640	109.7	4,795	111.7	4,973	114.9	5,339	121.0	4,722	104.9	5,006	108.8
Abduction	1	0.0	-	-	4	0.1	2	0.1	-	-	-	-
Robbery	1,049	24.8	991	23.1	948	21.9	1,076	24.4	1,079	23.9	1,174	25.5
TOTAL	6,573	155.5	6,648	154.9	6,699	154.9	7,111	161.2	6,429	142.8	6,796	147.8
PRAIRIE
Homicide	19	0.9	10	0.5	13	0.59	12	0.54	15	0.7	20	0.9
Attempted Murder	9	0.4	18	0.8	14	0.64	18	0.81	24	1.05	13	0.6
Sexual Assault & Other Sexual Offenses	628	29.3	587	27.0	548	24.93	418	18.69	460	20.2	418	18.0
Non-Sexual Assault	2,312	108.0	2,517	115.9	2,502	113.83	2,623	117.31	2,766	121.4	2,668	114.8
Abduction	2	0.1	1	0.1	2	0.09	1	0.04	3	0.1	-	-
Robbery	549	25.6	597	27.5	576	26.21	674	30.14	740	32.5	717	30.9
TOTAL	3,519	164.4	3,730	171.8	3,655	166.29	3,746	167.54	4,008	175.9	3,836	165.0
PACIFIC
Homicide	2	0.2	5	0.4	9	0.61	14	0.93	9	0.6	13	0.8
Attempted Murder	2	0.2	7	0.5	10	0.68	7	0.46	7	0.5	15	0.9
Sexual Assault & Other Sexual Offenses	291	21.2	274	19.3	286	19.50	219	14.50	234	15.0	229	14.3
Non-Sexual Assault	1,338	97.3	1,483	104.4	1,670	113.92	1,587	105.11	1,630	104.6	1,541	96.5
Abduction	-	-	-	-	2	0.14	3	0.20	2	0.1	2	0.1
Robbery	316	22.9	380	26.8	442	30.15	543	35.96	510	32.7	514	32.2
TOTAL	1,949	141.8	2,149	151.3	2,419	165.01	2,373	157.17	2,392	153.5	2,314	144.8
TOTAL	15,742	132.8	16,375	136.5	16,753	138.50	17,250	141.05	16,589	134.0	16,613	132.6

* Source: Uniform Crime Report

** Rate per 10,000 total male (aged 12 - 17 years) population

*** Figures may not add to totals due to rounding

Table 4.4: Total Male Youth (Aged 12 - 17 Years) Population*, Canada

	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997
Atlantic	110,000	107,800	105,400	104,248	103,774	102,825
Quebec	300,600	303,800	305,200	302,919	300,320	296,425
Ontario	422,800	429,300	432,600	441,233	450,170	459,965
Prairie	214,100	217,100	219,800	223,595	227,938	232,446
Pacific	137,500	142,000	146,600	150,984	155,791	159,766
TOTAL	1,185,000	1,200,000	1,209,600	1,222,979	1,237,993	1,251,427

* Source: Statistics Canada, Census and Household Statistics Division, Demography Division

 

Chart 4.4A: Male Youth Charged for a Violent Offense by Police Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Regions

 

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	0.5	54	0.5	38	0.3	58	0.5	43	0.4	48	0.4
Attempted Murder	42	0.4	64	0.5	47	0.4	48	0.4	39	0.3	56	0.5
Sexual Assault & Other Sexual	1,928	17.2	2,122	17.9	2,444	20.4	2,153	17.8	1,816	14.9	1,698	13.7
Non-Sexual Assault	9,824	87.4	10,723	90.5	11,377	94.8	11,533	95.4	11,031	90.2	11,801	95.3
Abduction	16	0.1	37	0.3	25	0.2	49	0.4	57	0.5	27	0.2
Robbery	1,921	17.1	2,145	18.1	2,032	16.9	2,050	16.9	2,073	16.9	2,442	19.7
Weapon	2,386	21.2	2,439	20.6	2,566	21.4	2,510	20.8	2,115	17.3	2,019	16.3
Other	102	0.9	122	1.0	158	1.3	125	1.0	141	1.2	124	1.0
TOTAL	16,277	144.8	7,706	49.4	18,687	55.7	18,526	53.2	17,315	141.6	8,215	147.1

* 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 Offenses; 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.

Table 4.6: Total Male Youth (Aged 12 - 17 Years) Population*, Canada

	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
	1,124,000	1,185,000	1,200,000	1,209,600	1,222,979	1,237,993

* 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

 

Chart 4.5B: Male Youth Processed Through the Youth Court System For a Violent Offense Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Canada

 

QUESTION 5: 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: There was an increase from 1992/93 to 1996/97.

Manitoba: Overall stability from 1992/93 was followed by an increase to the highest rate per 10,000 male youth in 1996/97.

British Columbia: The rate increased slightly over the 5-year span.

Table 5.1: Male Youth Remanded into Custody* Per Month**, Select Provinces***

	1992/1993		1993/1994		1994/1995		1995/1996		1996/1997
PROVINCE	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
Newfoundland	18	6	-	-	-	-	62	23	57	21
Prince Edward Island	2	3	2	3	3	5	3	5	5	8
Nova Scotia	27	7	-	-	-	-	35	9	29	8
Manitoba	99	21	101	21	92	19	103	21	124	25
British Columbia	107	8	133	9	142	10	157	11	158	10
Yukon<	71	592	18	150	3	25	-	-	6	41
Northwest Territories	-	-	9	28	7	22	-	-	-	-

* 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

	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
Newfoundland	30,600	29,500	28,400	27,300	26,980
Prince Edward Island	6,000	6,000	6,000	6,000	6,005
Nova Scotia	39,200	38,400	38,000	37,800	38,343
Manitoba	48,400	47,900	48,000	48,300	48,864
British Columbia	136,300	140,100	145,400	149,700	154,102
Yukon	1,200	1,200	1,200	1,300	1,460
Northwest Territories	3,300	3,200	3,200	3,300	3,379

 

Chart 5.1A: Male Youth Remanded Into Custody Per Month, Per 10,000 Male Youth Population, Select Provinces

QUESTION 6: 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 level similar to the 1994/95 level in 1996/97. The second most serious disposition, open custody, also revealed an increase until 1993/94. The percentage remained stable until a slight decrease in 1996/97. Probation revealed a consistent decrease until 1993/94 when a marked increase trend began. Fine and community service order dispositions decreased dramatically from 1993/94 to 1994/95 before leveling off and decreasing slightly in 1996/97. Absolute discharge dispositions decreased from 1991/92 to 1996/97.

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 the 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 and consistent increase in open custody from 1991/92 to 1996/97. Slight decrease in fine and community service order dispositions from 1991/92 to 1995/96 returning to a higher percentage in 1996/97. Overall, absolute discharge remained stable in the 6-year span.

Quebec Region: Slight decrease in secure custody. A notable increase from 1991/92 to 1994/95 in open custody dispositions and returned to a lower rate in 1995/96 to 1996/97. Slight and steady increase in probation. A decrease in fine and community service order ending in 1993/94 was followed by an increase. Fairly stable rate of absolute discharge.

Ontario Region: The secure custody rate remained stable until an increase in 1994/95, and remained stable for the following two years. Relatively stable open custody rate. The probation rate showed a marked increase in 1994/95 and increased slightly in subsequent years. A marked decrease in 1994/95 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 an 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, when a slight increase trend began. Overall decrease infine 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	3.1	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	784	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	55	3,220	54	3,277	56	3,154	54	3,099	56	3,217	54
Fine & CSO****	586	9	447	8	435	7	413	7	366	7	519	9
Absolute Discharge	158	2	138	2	147	3	164	3	129	2	100	2
TOTAL	6,814	100	5,956	100	5,905	100	5,837	100	5,561	100	5,985	101
QUEBEC
Secure Custody	1,678	22	1,531	19	1,568	20	1,548	19	1,181	16	1,473	17
Open Custody	969	13	1,124	14	1,074	14	1,257	15	1,013	13	1,072	13
Probation	3,741	49	4,014	50	4,131	52	4,264	52	4,106	54	4,669	55
Fine & CSO	1,154	15	1,166	15	1,003	13	1,117	13	1,184	16	1,265	15
Absolute Discharge	108	1	116	2	111	1	100	1	113	2	86	1
TOTAL	7,650	100	7,951	100	7,887	100	8,286	101	7,597	100	8,565	101
ONTARIO
Secure Custody	3,325	17	3,803	18	4,075	18	4,716	21	4,666	21	4,719	21
Open Custody	4,888	25	5,370	25	5,984	26	5,170	23	5,467	24	5,230	23
Probation	5,745	29	5,947	28	5,739	25	10,900	48	10,632	47	11,322	50
Fine & CSO	4,948	25	5,251	25	6,162	27	1,156	5	1,064	5	846	4
Absolute Discharge	947	5	1,051	5	1,009	4	868	4	727	3	490	2
TOTAL	19,853	101	21,422	101	22,969	100	22,810	101	22,556	100	22,607	100
PRAIRIE
Secure Custody	2,659	13	2,935	15	2,942	16	2,846	16	2,545	15	2,750	17
Open Custody	2,763	14	2,788	14	2,903	15	2,798	16	2,665	16	2,441	15
Probation	8,425	42	8,121	42	7,793	41	7,018	40	7,321	43	7,312	45
Fine & CSO	5,375	27	5,117	26	4,666	25	4,361	25	4,261	25	3,594	22
Absolute Discharge	742	4	490	3	498	3	418	2	411	2	282	2
TOTAL	19,964	100	19,451	100	18,802	100	17,441	99	17,203	101	16,379	101
PACIFIC
Secure Custody	437	7	632	9	664	11	638	11	598	11	697	12
Open Custody	1,076	17	1,313	19	1,364	22	1,242	21	1,110	20	1,250	21
Probation	4,069	63	4,135	60	3,535	57	3,339	57	3,237	58	3,527	59
Fine & CSO	601	9	602	9	485	8	482	8	491	9	350	6
Absolute Discharge	251	4	258	4	165	3	195	3	163	3	104	2
TOTAL	6,434	100	6,940	100	6,213	101	5,896	100	5,599	101	5,928	100

* 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

 

QUESTION 7: HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MALE YOUTH TRANSFERRED TO ADULT COURT?

• Overall, there has been an increase in the number of male youth transferred to adult court in Canada from 1991/92 to 1996/97.
• Following a decrease in 1992/93, the number of male youths transferred to adult court more than doubled in 1994/95. A significant decrease of almost 50% 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 absolute number (12) of male youths transferred to adult court over the 6-year span, while the Prairie region had the most (247).
• 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

** Total 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	2	13	4	15	6	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	2	41	08	288	29	3

* Source: Youth Court Survey

 

Chart 7.1A: Male Youth Transferred to Adult Court, Canada 1991/92 – 1996/97

APPENDIX A

EXPLANATION AND DEFINITION OF DATA SOURCES

1. UNIFORM CRIME REPORT SURVEY (UCR)

• A continuous historical record of crime and traffic statistics that have been investigated and reported by every Canadian police agency 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 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 REPORT 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 approximately 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 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; Updated Postcensal Estimates for 1992, 1993, 1995; and Preliminal Postcensal for 1994, 1996, 1997). 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.

APPENDIX B 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 original sources (i.e., Uniform Crime Report and Youth Court Survey). Please refer to the original source if further clarification is needed on any definition.

APPENDIX C

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).

APPENDIX D 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 (1995:1), these accounts "belie the fact...that the phenomenon of serious youth violence is actually so infrequent that it tends to elude statistical analysis." 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."
• 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."

APPENDIX E 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 workings and effects of the transfer provisions of the YOA (50).

APPENDIX F 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. 4For 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.