Table 9
Youth accused of police-reported crime for selected offences, Canada, 2016 and 2017


Table 9
Youth accused of police-reported crime for selected offences, Canada, 2016 and 2017
Table summary
This table displays the results of Youth accused of police-reported crime for selected offences. The information is grouped by Type of offence (appearing as row headers), 2016, 2017, Percent change in rate 2016 to 2017 and Percent change in rate 2007 to 2017, calculated using number, rate and percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Type of offence 2016Note r: revised 2017 Percent change in rate 2016 to 2017 Percent change in rate 2007 to 2017
number rate number rate percent
Total Criminal Code (excluding traffic) – "Youth crime rate" 89,118 3,850 88,669 3,822 -1 -44
Total violent crime 30,247 1,307 31,854 1,373 5 -30
Homicide 24 1 50 2 108 -27
Other violations causing deathTable 9 Note 1 5 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 5 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -29
Attempted murder 89 4 42 2 -53 -10
Sexual assault - level 3 - aggravated 1 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 4 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
Sexual assault - level 2 - weapon or bodily harm 58 3 54 2 -7 36
Sexual assault - level 1 1,720 74 2,049 88 19 8
Sexual violations against childrenTable 9 Note 2 Table 9 Note 3 Table 9 Note 4 907 39 1,138 49 25 Note ...: not applicable
Assault - level 3 - aggravated 255 11 298 13 17 -35
Assault - level 2 - weapon or bodily harm 4,045 175 4,099 177 1 -40
Assault - level 1 12,512 541 12,434 536 -1 -38
Assault against a peace officer 729 31 697 30 -5 -26
Other assaults 103 4 96 4 -7 -71
Firearms - use of, discharge, pointing 199 9 254 11 27 2
Robbery 2,633 114 2,987 129 13 -29
Forcible confinement or kidnapping 173 7 146 6 -16 -48
Trafficking in personsTable 9 Note 5 6 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 21 1 249 Note ...: not applicable
Extortion 138 6 178 8 29 -7
Criminal harassment 1,027 44 1,037 45 1 1
Uttering threats 4,601 199 4,980 215 8 -32
Indecent and harassing communicationsTable 9 Note 6 394 17 500 22 27 -50
Non-consensual distribution of intimate imagesTable 9 Note 7 228 10 344 15 51 Note ...: not applicable
Commodification of sexual activityTable 9 Note 8 23 1 24 1 4 Note ...: not applicable
Other violent Criminal Code violations 377 16 417 18 10 1
Total property crime 39,995 1,728 38,587 1,663 -4 -53
Breaking and entering 5,373 232 5,001 216 -7 -57
Possess stolen propertyTable 9 Note 9 1,662 72 1,743 75 5 -76
Theft of motor vehicle 2,018 87 1,951 84 -4 -49
Theft over $5,000 (non-motor vehicle) 151 7 154 7 2 -41
Theft of $5,000 or under (non-motor vehicle) 18,759 810 18,002 776 -4 -45
Fraud (excluding identity theft and fraud)Table 9 Note 10 1,049 45 1,075 46 2 -49
Identity theftTable 9 Note 10 17 1 25 1 47 Note ...: not applicable
Identity fraudTable 9 Note 10 147 6 88 4 -40 Note ...: not applicable
MischiefTable 9 Note 11 10,238 442 10,036 433 -2 -58
Arson 581 25 512 22 -12 -61
Total other Criminal Code offences 18,876 816 18,228 786 -4 -37
Weapons violations 1,828 79 1,935 83 6 -31
Child pornographyTable 9 Note 12 Table 9 Note 13 716 31 666 29 -7 806
ProstitutionTable 9 Note 8 0 0 3 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
TerrorismTable 9 Note 14 6 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 3 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
Disturb the peace 2,858 123 2,797 121 -2 -60
Administration of justice violations 12,068 521 11,363 490 -6 -28
Other violations 1,400 60 1,461 63 4 -51
Total Criminal Code traffic violations 1,187 51 1,101 47 -7 -48
Alcohol impaired drivingTable 9 Note 15 Table 9 Note 16 393 17 349 15 -11 -63
Drug impaired drivingTable 9 Note 15 Table 9 Note 17 42 2 51 2 21 Note ...: not applicable
Other Criminal Code traffic violations 752 32 701 30 -7 -40
Total drug offences 11,182 483 10,211 440 -9 -38
Possession - cannabis 8,838 382 7,942 342 -10 -35
Possession - cocaine 222 10 250 11 12 -27
Possession - methamphetamines or ecstasyTable 9 Note 18 Table 9 Note 19 298 13 304 13 2 Note ...: not applicable
Possession - heroin 24 1 32 1 33 Note ...: not applicable
Possession - other drugsTable 9 Note 18 Table 9 Note 20 489 21 508 22 4 -56
Trafficking, production or import/export - cannabis 776 34 678 29 -13 -58
Trafficking, production or import/export - cocaine 215 9 208 9 -3 -65
Trafficking, production or import/export - methamphetamines or ecstasyTable 9 Note 18 Table 9 Note 19 84 4 85 4 1 Note ...: not applicable
Trafficking, production or import/export - heroin 22 1 18 1 -18 Note ...: not applicable
Trafficking, production or import/export - other drugsTable 9 Note 18 Table 9 Note 20 214 9 186 8 -13 -63
Total other federal statute violations 4,244 183 4,547 196 7 -38
Human trafficking under the Immigration and Refugee Protection ActTable 9 Note 21 3 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 1 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable
Youth Criminal Justice Act 3,410 147 3,038 131 -11 -50
Other federal statutes 831 36 1,508 65 81 18
Total - all violations 105,731 4,568 104,528 4,506 -1 -43
... not applicable
0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded
r revised
Note 1

Includes, for example, criminal negligence causing death.

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Note 2

Excludes sexual assaults against children and youth, which are reported as level 1, 2 or 3 sexual assault.

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Note 3

Sexual violations against children is a relatively new crime category with only partial data available prior to 2010, therefore the percentage change from 2007 to 2017 is not shown.

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Note 4

Includes sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, sexual exploitation, luring a child via telecommunications/agreement or arrangement, and making sexually explicit material available to a child for the purpose of facilitating sexual offences against children/youth, and the offences of parent or guardian procuring sexual activity, householder permitting prohibited sexual activity, agreement or arrangement of a sexual offence against a child, and bestiality in the presence of or inciting a child (s. 160 (3)). Incidents of child pornography are not included in the category of sexual violations against children.

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Note 5

Changes to the Criminal Code, including the introduction of new offences related to trafficking in persons were made in 2005, 2010, 2012, and 2014. Therefore, the percentage change from 2007 to 2017 is not shown.

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Note 6

This offence was amended in the Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act: Bill C-13 (2015) to include all means of telecommunication, not only phone calls.

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Note 7

Non-consensual distribution of intimate images is an offence created by the Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act: Bill C-13 (2015), therefore the percentage change from 2007 to 2017 is not shown.

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Note 8

In December 2014, new legislation came into effect governing prostitution-related activities. The new legislation targets “the exploitation that is inherent in prostitution and the risks of violence posed to those who engage in it” (C.C.Chapter 25, preamble). New violations classified as “Commodification of Sexual Activity” under “Violent Crime” include: the purchasing of sexual services or communicating for that purpose, receiving a material benefit deriving from the purchase of sexual services, procuring of persons for the purpose of prostitution, and advertising sexual services offered for sale. In addition, a number of other offences related to prostitution continue to be considered non-violent offences and are classified under “Other Criminal Code offences”. These include communicating to provide sexual services for consideration, and stopping or impeding traffic for the purpose of offering, providing or obtaining sexual services for consideration.

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Note 9

Includes trafficking and the intent to traffic stolen goods.

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Note 10

In January 2010, the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey was modified to create new violation codes for identity fraud and identity theft. Prior to 2010, those offences would have been coded as fraud. Therefore, the percentage change from 2007 to 2017 for fraud includes identity fraud and identity theft.

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Note 11

Includes altering/removing/destroying a vehicle identification number.

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Note 12

Due to the complexity of these cyber incidents, the data likely reflect the number of active or closed investigations for the year rather than the total number of incidents reported to police. Data are based on police-reported incidents that are recorded in police services’ records management systems.

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Note 13

The offence of “Child Pornography” includes offences under section 163.1 of the Criminal Code which makes it illegal to access, possess, make, print, or distribute child pornography. When the actual victim is not identified, this offence is reported to the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey with the most serious offence being “Child Pornography” which falls under the larger crime category of “Other Criminal Code”. In cases where an actual victim is identified, police will report the most serious offence as sexual assault, sexual exploitation or other sexual violations against children, which falls under the category of “Violent Violations”, and child pornography may be reported as a secondary violation.

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Note 14

Includes seven new terrorism violations which were introduced mid-year 2013, as a result of the enactment of Bill S-7 (An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Canada Evidence Act and the Security of Information Act). An additional terrorism violation code was introduced in late 2015, as a result of the enactment of Bill C-51 Anti-terrorism Act (2015). Therefore, comparisons to previous years should be made with caution. Terrorism is a relatively new crime category with only partial data available prior to 2010; therefore, the percentage change from 2007 to 2017 is not shown. Due to the length of time for investigations to confirm whether or not the incident is founded, annual counts of terrorism offences are subject to revisions downwards when revised data are released one year after the initial release. Therefore, changes between the current year of data and the previous year should be interpreted with caution.

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Note 15

In 2008, the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey was modified to create new violation codes for drug impaired operation of a vehicle, drug impaired operation of a vehicle causing death or bodily harm, failure or refusal to comply with testing for the presence of drugs and failure or refusal to provide a breath or blood sample. Prior to 2008, those offences would have been coded together with alcohol impaired driving violations. Therefore, the percentage change from 2007 to 2017 is not shown.

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Note 16

Includes alcohol impaired operation of a vehicle, alcohol impaired operation of a vehicle causing death or bodily harm, failure or refusal to comply with testing for the presence of alcohol and failure or refusal to provide a breath or blood sample. In some jurisdictions, including British Columbia, impaired driving incidents that meet the elements of the Criminal Code may be handled using a provincial statute. Collection of these incidents is within the scope of the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.

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Note 17

Includes drug impaired operation of a vehicle, drug impaired operation of a vehicle causing death or bodily harm, failure or refusal to comply with testing for the presence of drugs and failure or refusal to provide a breath or blood sample. In some jurisdictions, including British Columbia, impaired driving incidents that meet the elements of the Criminal Code may be handled using a provincial statute. Collection of these incidents is within the scope of the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.

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Note 18

Includes substances such as crystal meth, speed, etc. as well as ecstasy.

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Note 19

In April 2008, the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey began counting violations involving methamphetamines (e.g., crystal meth) and ecstasy (MDA or MDMA) under their own unique violation codes. Prior to this, violations involving methamphetamines and ecstasy were counted within the category of “Other Drugs”. Therefore, the percentage change from 2007 to 2017 for violations involving methamphetamines, ecstasy or "Other Drugs" are not shown.

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Note 20

Includes all other drugs listed under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CSDA), such as prescription drugs, opioids such as Fentanyl, barbiturates, LSD, and "date rape" drugs. Trafficking and production of other drugs includes the possession, production, selling or importing of anything (such as precursors) with the knowledge that it will be used in the production or trafficking of a controlled substance (as defined in section 2(1) of the CSDA).

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Note 21

Includes human trafficking and human smuggling violations under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Data specific to these offences is not available prior to 2011, therefore, the percentage change from 2007 to 2017 is not shown.

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Note: Data is based on the number of youth aged 12 to 17 years who were either charged (or recommended for charging) by police or diverted from the formal criminal justice system through the use of warnings, cautions, referrals to community programs, etc. Counts are based upon the most serious violation in the incident. One incident may involve multiple violations. While the definition of youth and the legislation governing youth justice have changed over the years, data for police-reported rates of youth accused of total, violent, property and other crime categories are available from 1977. Rates are calculated on the basis of 100,000 youth population. Percent changes are based on unrounded rates. Due to the variability in small numbers, percent changes have not been calculated when the number of offenders is below 5 in any given year. Populations are based on July 1st estimates from Statistics Canada, Demography Division.
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.
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