Highlights

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• In 2008/2009, in the 12 jurisdictions that reported data, there were almost 371,800 adults admitted to correctional services.¹ Most admissions were to remand (41%), followed by probation (23%), and provincial and territorial sentenced custody (22%).

• Admissions to remand decreased in 2008/2009 from the previous year (-1%), as did admissions to federal custody (-3%). Admissions to provincial and territorial sentenced custody increased 1%.

• In 2008/2009, admissions to community supervision increased from the previous year, driven by increases in probation (+3%) and conditional sentences (+4%). The number of admissions to conditional sentences grew for the second consecutive year. Just over 18,400 adults were admitted to conditional sentences in 2008/2009.   

• In 2008/2009, the operating costs to provide correctional services in Canada, which includes custodial services, community supervision, headquarters and central services, provincial parole boards and the National Parole Board (NPB), totalled almost $3.9 billion. This amount was 7% more than the previous year when controlling for inflation. Operating costs increased in both the provincial and territorial system (+6%) and the federal system (+8%).²

• The cost of keeping a federal inmate in custody in 2008/2009 was almost $323 per day. Controlling for inflation, this cost has increased annually since 2006/2007. In comparison, in 2008/2009, the average cost of provincial and territorial custody per inmate was about $162 per day. Controlling for inflation, this cost has fluctuated between $136 and $144 over same period.³

• Aboriginal adults continued to account for a notable share of admissions to correctional programs, including remand (21%), provincial and territorial sentenced custody (27%), federal custody (18%), probation (18%) and conditional sentences (20%).⁴ In contrast, Aboriginal people represented 3% of the Canadian adult population according to the 2006 Census.

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Notes

1. The Northwest Territories and Nunavut are excluded due to missing data.
2. Excludes Nunavut.
3. Provincial and territorial data exclude Prince Edward Island and Nunavut.
4. Provincial and territorial custody excludes Prince Edward Island. Probation excludes Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Conditional sentences exclude Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.