Sexual offences

Six out of every 10 victims (61%) of sexual offences reported to police in 2002 were children and youth under 18 years old, according to new police-reported data.

Girls made up the vast majority of victims of sexual offences reported to police (85%) according to data provided by 123 police departments. Rates were highest among female victims aged 11 to 19, with the peak at age 13. Among male victims, rates were highest for boys aged three to 14.

Boys aged 13 and 14 are at the highest risk of committing a sexual offence, although this applies only to sexual assault level 1 and other offences, which do not involve a weapon or injury to the victim. For sexual assault levels 2 or 3, there is no discernable age-related pattern among accused.

In 1998/99, according to estimates produced from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, 3.9% of boys aged 12 to 15 reported having either "sexually touched someone who was unwilling" (3.3%) or "forced someone to have sex" (1.3%). This represents an estimated 26,800 boys who may have engaged in sexual offences. Many of these incidents did not come to the attention of the police.

Overall rate of sexual offences unchanged in past four years

Data for 2002 show the rate of sexual offences in Canada has remained relatively steady for the past four years.

In 2002, there were 27,100 sexual offences reported to police, representing a rate of 86 incidents for every 100,000 population, virtually unchanged since 1999 when the rate was 89.

The rate in 2002 was 36% below the peak of 136 incidents for every 100,000 population in 1993. The rate of sexual offences reported to police increased after new sexual assault legislation was passed in 1983. The increase was driven largely by incidents of sexual assault level 1, which involves minor physical injuries or no injuries to the victim. Between 1983 and 2002, the rates of sexual assault levels 2 and 3, the more serious forms, declined.

The decline in the rate of sexual offences since 1993 parallels the overall downward trend among other violent offences. Possible reasons for this decline include recent shifts in the age structure of the population, and societal efforts to reduce this crime.

Sexual offences accounted for 1% of the 2.4 million Criminal Code incidents reported by police in 2002, a proportion that has not changed for the last decade.

Police statistics represent only a small portion of all sexual offences and offenders. Victimization surveys suggest that as many as 90% of all sexual offences are not reported to the police. Once reported, sexual offences are also less likely than other violent offences to result in charges.

In 2002, sexual assault level 1 offences accounted for 88% of all sexual assault incidents. "Other sexual offences," which are primarily offences against children, accounted for 10%, and sexual assault levels 2 and 3-the more serious forms-accounted for the remaining 2%.

Rates varied widely in provinces and territories

The distribution of police-recorded sexual offences varied widely from region to region.

Provinces with the highest rates were Saskatchewan, with 160 incidents for every 100,000 population, followed by Manitoba (139). The lowest rates were in Quebec (71), and Ontario (74). Rates for these two provinces were below the national average of 86.

The rate of sexual offences reported to police has generally declined in each province and territory since 1993. However, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Territories reported an increase in rates between 2001 and 2002.

Among census metropolitan areas (CMAs), rates were highest in Saskatoon, Sudbury and Regina. The lowest were in the Ottawa portion of the Ottawa-Gatineau CMA, Windsor, Québec, and Toronto.

In the absence of an extensive evaluation, it is difficult to identify specific factors in the disparity in rates of reported sexual offences among the provinces, territories and metropolitan areas. Possible factors include variations in public attitudes toward sexual assault that may influence reporting rates among victims, as well as differences in police practices with regard to diverting accused persons, especially youth, to programs such as community work and counselling instead of laying formal charges.

Victims of sexual offences most often knew the accused

Victims of sexual offences knew the accused in 80% of cases. About 10% were assaulted by a friend, while 41% were assaulted by an acquaintance. Just over one-quarter (28%) were assaulted by a family member, while the remaining 20% were victimized by a stranger.

Children aged 11 and under were most often victimized by family members, especially in the case of girls. Parents were identified as suspects in 20% of cases, while in 29% of cases other relatives were identified as suspects. According to police statistics, while 9% of cases involved children falling prey to strangers, in 42% of cases, friends and acquaintances were suspects.

In comparison, 58% of youth aged 12 to17 were victimized by friends and acquaintances, as were 52% of adults.

Most common sentence for sexual offenders was prison

In adult court, individuals charged with sexual offences are less likely to be found guilty than those charged with other violent offences. Once convicted, however, sexual offenders in adult court are more likely than other violent offenders to receive a prison sentence.

The rate of conditional sentences for adults convicted of sexual assaults is rising. About 17% of convicted sex offenders received conditional sentences in 2001/02, compared with 9% in 1998/99. Conditional sentences are rarely ordered on conviction for level 3 sexual assault (5%).

In youth court, individuals in sexual assault level 1 cases were found guilty at the same rate as other violent offenders. The proportion was about 60% in both cases. Youth charged with the more serious sexual assaults (levels 2 and 3) and other sexual offences had lower conviction rates (43% and 49% respectively).

About three-quarters (74%) of young offenders found guilty of sexual assault levels 2 or 3 received custodial sentences. This compares with 22% of youth convicted of other types of sexual offences and 28% of youth convicted of other violent offences.

Sexual offenders were less likely to have had previous convictions for similar offences than were property offenders or those convicted of other types of violent offences. However, persons accused of sexual offences were more likely than other offenders to appear before court with multiple charges.

Available on CANSIM: tables 252-0013 and 252-0014.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3302.

Juristat: Sexual offences in Canada, 2002, Vol. 23, no. 6 (85-002-XIE, $8/$70; 85-002-XPE, $10/$93) is now available.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Information and Client Services (1-800-387-2231; 613-951-9023), Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.