Crime and justice

Description:

Canadian children are reported missing more often than we would like to believe. According to data released by the RCMP, approximately 56,000 children were reported missing in 1996, an average of 153 children a day. A child not returning from school at the normal time, a child wandering off without telling the parent, or a child not being returned after a scheduled visit with a parent or family member - any missing child is of great concern to the searching parent(s) and to society as a whole.

Description:

While most property crimes in Canada have been decreasing in recent years, motor vehicle thefts continue to climb steadily. This growth has caused concern among the general public and has resulted in increased use of anti-theft devices by car owners. The consequences of motor vehicle theft are largely monetary, but may also result in physical harm if the victim is robbed of their vehicle (known as carjacking) or if the theft results in a high-speed pursuit by police. Motor vehicles are usually stolen either for “joy-riding” (usually by youths), for re-sale by organized criminal groups or to commit another crime.

Description:

This series of reports provides detailed statistics and analysis on the major areas of the criminal justice system (police, courts, legal aid, prosecutions and correctional services), as well as on a variety of current topics and issues related to justice in Canada.

Description:

Impaired driving continues to be a subject of considerable concern in Canada. Traffic accidents are the primary cause of death for 15 to 19 year-olds and the second leading cause for 20 to 44 year-olds. In all too many instances, the drivers involved have been drinking before getting behind the wheel. In 1995, statistics show that more than 3,600 persons died in traffic accidents and that over one-third of driver fatalities involved alcohol.

Description:

The abuse of children and youth in the family is a serious concern for Canadians. Child abuse and neglect often result in physical, emotional and developmental problems which can affect the victims throughout their lives. There are currently no national estimates of child abuse in Canada. Only those incidents that come to the attention of officials, such as the police and child welfare agencies, are known. Efforts to understand the nature and the scope of child abuse should therefore take into account the fact that available data reflect only a portion of the total. This Juristat uses statistical databases of police reported incidents across Canada to describe what is currently known from a criminal justice perspective about violence against children and youth in the family. Although these police reported incidents account for only a portion of all abuse that occurs, they nonetheless provide an important tool for profiling the more serious cases. For the purposes of this analysis, "children" include all young persons under 18 years of age, and "family members" include persons related to the victim by kniship, either through blood, marriage, common-law or adoption, as well as legal guardians such as foster parents.

Description:

Providing effective treatment and rehabilitation of young offenders and ensuring the safety of Canadian communities are primary objectives of the youth justice system. Increasingly, this system has felt the pressure of public and media scrutiny. The recent parliamentary review and the media have focused on the most serious criminal events involving youths. The Youth Court Survey, through the collection and dissemination of youth court information, assists policy-makers and program managers as they struggle to redefine the nature of Canada's youth justice system. The Youth Court Survey provides data to monitor the current practice of the courts to deal with youths, aged 12 to 17 at the time of the offence, in the criminal justice system. This Juristat provides information on the nature and volume of cases processed by the youth courts of Canada, on accused characteristics, and on case outcomes during the 1995-96 fiscal year (April to March). National caseload trends are also included.

Description:

This report is an examination of crime data reported to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) survey during 1996. The data are presented within the context of both short and long term trends. Every year since 1962, Canada's police agencies have reported incidents that come to their attention to the UCR survey. Analyses in this report focus on trends in violent crime, property crime, impaired driving offences, drug offences and yotuth crime. Crime rates are examined at the national, provincial/territorial and major metropolitan levels. The trend in Canada's crime rate is put into perspective by comparing it with trends in police-reported crime form the United States and England and Wales. Also, comparisons between Canadian crime statistics and results from a recent victimization survey are drawn. Specific types of violent crime such as "home- invasions", wife assault and violent incidents involving weapons continue to be a concern to Canadians. Due to limits in the way crime statistics are collected from Canada's police agencies, it has traditionally been difficults to measure these areas. While national statistics are still unavailable, this Juristat will, for the first time, present trends for these crimes as reported by a sample of police agencies from 1993 to 1996.

Description:

Homicide tends to receive more media attention and consequently closer public scrutiny than any other criminal act. The act itself, especially if cruel in nature or targeting defenceless members of society, promotes fear in the general public. Despite a growing concern among Canadians about threats of attack or violence, the homicide rate has gradually been declining since the mid 1970s.

Description:

This Juristat examines the extent to which weapons, such as guns, knives and blunt objects, are used in violent crimes. In order to understand the prevalence of violent crime in general, the first section provides a brief explanation of the trends over time in Canada, while the second section of this Juristat provides a snapshot of the use of weapons in violent crime in 1995. The final section more specifically examines the national trends in weapon use in the crimes of homicide and robbery since 1975, with a particular focus upon the use of firearms.

Description:

The purpose of this report is to reduce the level of confusion arising from the use of crime data originating from two very different sources (i.e., the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey - UCR and the General Social Survey - GSS) and to inform discussions about which is the better measure of crime. It explains why the findings based on these data sources diverge and summarizes the major differences between the two surveys.

Description: Police-reported hate crime, by most serious violation (homicide, assault, robbery, criminal harassment, indecent/harassing communications, uttering threats, mischief, public incitement of hatred), selected regions and Canada (selected police services), 2014 to 2023.

Description: Police-reported hate crime, number of incidents and rate per 100,000 population, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Canadian Forces Military Police, 2014 to 2023.

Description: Number of homicide victims, by method used to commit the homicide (total methods used; shooting; stabbing; beating; strangulation; fire (burns or suffocation); other methods used; methods used unknown), Canada, 1974 to 2023.

Description: Number of victims of solved homicides, by type of accused-victim relationship, Canada, 1974 to 2023.

Description: Number of victims of spousal homicide, Canada and regions, 1997 to 2023.

Description: Victims of gang-related homicides (total number of homicide victims; number of homicide victims - unknown gang-relation; number of homicide victims - known gang relation; number of gang-related homicide victims; percentage of gang-related homicide victims; rate (per 100,000 population) of gang-related homicide victims), Canada and regions, 1999 to 2023.

Description: Number and rate (per 100,000 population) of victims of solved homicides, by gender (all genders; male; female; gender unknown), Indigenous identity (total, homicide victims by Indigenous identity; Indigenous identity; non-Indigenous identity; unknown Indigenous identity) and type of accused-victim relationship, Canada, 2014 to 2023.

Description: Number and rate (per 100,000 population) of homicide victims, by Indigenous identity (total, by Indigenous identity; Indigenous identity; First Nations (North American Indian); Métis; Inuk (Inuit); Indigenous person, Indigenous group unknown; non-Indigenous identity; unknown Indigenous identity) and gender (all genders; male; female; gender unknown), Canada, 2014 to 2023.

Description: Number of homicide victims, by Indigenous identity (total, by Indigenous identity; Indigenous identity; First Nations (North American Indian); Métis; Inuk (Inuit); Indigenous person, Indigenous group unknown; non-Indigenous identity; unknown Indigenous identity) and missing person status (total, by missing person status; missing; not missing; missing person status unknown), Canada, 2015 to 2023.

Description: Number of homicide victims, by Indigenous identity (total, by Indigenous identity; Indigenous identity; First Nations (North American Indian); Métis; Inuk (Inuit); Indigenous person, Indigenous group unknown; non-Indigenous identity; unknown Indigenous identity) and location of homicide (total, by urban and rural area; urban area; rural area), Canada, 2014 to 2023.

Description: This infographic provides information on how incidents of sexual assault proceed through the criminal justice system, from police to courts.

Description: This Juristat article provides updated information on how incidents of sexual assault proceed through the criminal justice system, from police to courts. It also focuses on the characteristics of these incidents, victims, and accused persons that are associated with different outcomes at various stages of the process.

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: This publication provides in-depth analysis and detailed statistics on a variety of topics and issues related to justice and public safety. Topics include crime, victimization, homicide, civil, family and criminal courts, and correctional services. Issues related to community safety, and perceptions of safety are also covered. The publication is intended for those with an interest in Canada's justice and public safety systems as well as those who plan, establish, administer and evaluate programs and projects related to justice and public safety.

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: Key statistics about crime in Canada are presented in this infographic. Findings on changes to the Crime Severity Index (CSI) at the national and provincial, territorial levels are presented. Also included are the categories of crime which were reported in 2023.

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: The Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation (CIMD) is an area-based index which uses Census of Population microdata to measure four key dimensions of deprivation at the dissemination area (DA)-level: residential instability, economic dependency, situational vulnerability and ethno-cultural composition.

The CIMD allows for an understanding of inequalities in various measures of health and social well-being. While it is a geographically-based index of deprivation and marginalization, it can also be used as a proxy for an individual. The CIMD has the potential to be widely used by researchers on a variety of topics related to socio-economic research. Other uses for the index may include: policy planning and evaluation, or resource allocation.

Description:

The Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation (CIMD) is an area-based index which uses Census of Population microdata to measure four key dimensions of deprivation at the dissemination area (DA)-level: residential instability, economic dependency, situational vulnerability and ethno-cultural composition. The CIMD allows for an understanding of inequalities in various measures of health and social well-being. While it is a geographically-based index of deprivation and marginalization, it can also be used as a proxy for an individual. The CIMD has the potential to be widely used by researchers on a variety of topics related to socio-economic research. Other uses for the index may include: policy planning and evaluation, or resource allocation.

Description:

The User Guide for the Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation (CIMD) outlines uses for the index, as well as it provides a brief description of the methodology behind the development of the index. This User Guide also provides instructions on how to use the index, and lists considerations when using the CIMD data.

Description:

This objective of this report is to present the status of national data on Aboriginal people who come into contact with the criminal justice system as offenders and victims. The report examines the current and potential collection of an individual's Aboriginal identity through various justice-related surveys at Statistics Canada, the challenges within these surveys to collect these data and provides some insight into the quality of these data. The data and sources are examined within the context of information needs for the justice and social policy sectors, and in relation to the preferred method of measuring Aboriginal Identity at Statistics Canada. Data sources examined include the Incident-based Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, the Homicide Survey, the Integrated Criminal Courts Survey, the Adult Corrections Survey, the Youth Custody and Community Services Survey, the Youth Alternative Measures Survey, the Transition Home Survey, the Victim Services Survey and the General Social Survey on Victimization. Finally, the report briefly describes efforts by other countries to improve justice-related information on their indigenous populations.

Description:

This report presents a description of the organization and operation of provincial and territorial maintenance enforcement programs. It describes the relevant provincial legislation, highlights latest developments, provides a general description of each program, describes how each manages cases, intake/withdrawal procedures, tracing, monitoring, payment processing and enforcement practices. As such, the reader will be able to identify the variations and similarities between the various programs. All of the maintenance enforcement programs rely upon several federal acts to collect, trace and enforce support payments. Therefore, a review of the relevant federal legislation is presented first, followed by a description of each provincial and territorial maintenance enforcement program.

Description:

This publication describes the structure and administration of provincial/territorial legal aid services in Canada. It also includes information on legislation, organization, coverage, eligibility, duty counsel and tariffs.

Description:

This publication includes a list of federal and provincial courts across the country. The purpose of this directory is to identify all courts (permanent and most frequently visited circuit points) in Canada by type, level, and location.

Description: The purpose of this survey is to collect education related financial data on all reform and correctional institutions in Canada. These data are used to supplement data collected from the Provincial Public Accounts on provincial expenditures on education.

Description: The purpose of the Police Administration Survey (PAS) is to collect statistics on public policing personnel and expenditures from municipal, provincial and federal police services in Canada. The information collected is used by federal and provincial policy makers, individual police services as well as officials responsible for police budgets. The data are also used by the media for the purpose of providing information to the general public.

Description: The Uniform Crime Reporting Survey was designed to measure the incidence of crime in Canadian society and its characteristics. The information is used by federal and provincial policy makers as well as public and private researchers.