Indigenous Federal Offender Population: Custody and Community Supervision 2007 to 2017

Research Highlights: Growth of the Indigenous federal offender population in custody appears to have leveled off whereas on community supervision continues to climb.

Why we did this study

Over the past 10 years, the Indigenous federal custody population has increased a total of 1,081 inmates (or 40%) from 2,717 at fiscal year-end in 2006-07 to 3,798 in 2016/17. On the other hand, the Indigenous federal community supervision population has increased a total of 495 offenders (or 48%) from 1,029 in 2006-07 to 1,524 in 2016/17.

Understanding where, when and why changes in offender population trend lines occur can facilitate the allocation operational resources. A systematic monitoring of the in-custody and community supervision populations can signal when a break above or below the longer-term uptrend line might be occurring. Essentially, it would indicate that net-demand for accommodation or intervention capacity is continuing to mount, weaken or be met.

What we did

Since 2006/07, the in custody and community supervision counts were drawn from CSC’s Corporate Reporting System-Modernized (Offender Profile). Analyses of population counts for men and women were conducted separately, as historical trends for these two groups differ significantly.

What we found

The federal population of Indigenous men in custody showed an increase in March 2017 relative to March 2007 of 987 (or 39%) from 2,558 to 3,545. On the other hand, the federal population of women in custody showed an increase in March 2017 relative to March 2007 of 94 (or 59.0%) from 159 to 253.

Similarly, the federal population of Indigenous men on community supervision showed an increase in March 2017 relative to March 2007 of 443 (or 48%) from 919 to 1,362. On the other hand, the federal population of Indigenous women on community supervision showed an increase in March 2017 relative to March 2007 of 52 (or 47%) from 110 to 162.

Monitoring and analyzing national trends revealed upward trends nationally and across custody and community supervision. More important, however, a recent break in the trend-line is reflected by below the trend line for custody and above the trend line for community supervision.

Figure: Indigenous Federal Offender Populations 2007 to 2017

What it means

While there has been steady growth of the Indigenous federal offender population on community supervision, it appears that over the recent horizon that fewer new Indigenous offender admissions coupled with more discretionary releases and fewer revocations have resulted in a general dampening of growth in the Indigenous federal custody population.

For more information

Please e-mail the Research Branch research@csc-scc.gc.ca or contact us by phone at (613) 995-3975.

You can also visit the Research Publications section for a full list of reports and one-page summaries.

Prepared by: Larry Motiuk

Date modified:

2018-01-17