Table 14
Police-reported youth crime for selected offences, Canada, 2018 and 2019


Table 14
Police-reported youth crime for selected offences, Canada, 2018 and 2019
Table summary
This table displays the results of Police-reported youth crime for selected offences. The information is grouped by Type of offence (appearing as row headers), 2018, 2019, Change in rate 2018 to 2019 and Change in rate 2009 to 2019, calculated using number, rate and percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Type of offence 2018Note r: revised 2019 Change in rate 2018 to 2019Table 14 Note 1 Change in rate 2009 to 2019Table 14 Note 1
number rate number rate percent
Total Criminal Code (excluding traffic) – "Crime rate" 80,692 3,392 77,230 3,210 -5 -51
Total violent crime 31,609 1,329 32,434 1,348 1 -28
Homicide 38 2 25 1 -35 -67
Other violations causing deathTable 14 Note 2 10 Note 0svalue rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 3 Note 0svalue 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
Attempted murder 42 2 55 2 29 -19
Sexual assault - level 3 - aggravated 4 Note 0svalue rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 5 Note 0svalue rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded Note ...: not applicable 7
Sexual assault - level 2 - weapon or bodily harm 53 2 49 2 -9 45
Sexual assault - level 1 2,306 97 2,259 94 -3 11
Sexual offence occurring prior to January 4, 1983Table 14 Note 3 52 2 48 2 -9 Note ...: not applicable
Sexual violations against childrenTable 14 Note 4 Table 14 Note 5 Table 14 Note 6 1,165 49 1,260 52 7 Note ...: not applicable
Assault - level 3 - aggravated 282 12 320 13 12 -24
Assault - level 2 - weapon or bodily harm 4,049 170 4,349 181 6 -30
Assault - level 1 12,355 519 12,374 514 -1 -37
Assault against a peace officer 694 29 764 32 9 -39
Other assaults 113 5 100 4 -12 -66
Firearms - use of, discharge, pointing 219 9 227 9 2 Note 0svalue rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded
Robbery 2,849 120 3,009 125 4 -23
Forcible confinement or kidnapping 123 5 145 6 17 -51
Trafficking in personsTable 14 Note 7 8 Note 0svalue rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 8 Note 0svalue rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -1 Note ...: not applicable
Extortion 164 7 189 8 14 13
Criminal harassment 912 38 922 38 Note 0svalue rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -26
Uttering threats 5,044 212 5,026 209 -1 -33
Indecent and harassing phone callsTable 14 Note 8 436 18 471 20 7 -54
Non-consensual distribution of intimate imagesTable 14 Note 9 338 14 385 16 13 Note ...: not applicable
Offences in relation to sexual servicesTable 14 Note 10 20 1 16 1 -21 Note ...: not applicable
Other violent Criminal Code violations 333 14 425 18 26 -19
Total property crime 32,917 1,384 30,051 1,249 -10 -64
Breaking and entering 3,865 162 3,206 133 -18 -69
Possess stolen propertyTable 14 Note 11 1,575 66 1,268 53 -20 Note ...: not applicable
Theft of motor vehicle 1,666 70 1,374 57 -18 -62
Theft over $5,000 (non-motor vehicle) 150 6 118 5 -22 -57
Shoplifting under $5,000 10,611 446 10,183 423 -5 -55
Theft of $5,000 or under (non-motor vehicle) 4,578 192 3,899 162 -16 -69
FraudTable 14 Note 12 1,099 46 1,113 46 Note 0svalue rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -41
Identity theftTable 14 Note 12 15 1 20 1 32 Note ...: not applicable
Identity fraudTable 14 Note 12 91 4 112 5 22 Note ...: not applicable
MischiefTable 14 Note 13 8,868 373 8,332 346 -7 -63
Arson 399 17 426 18 6 -65
Total other Criminal Code offences 16,166 680 14,745 613 -10 -49
Weapons violations 1,739 73 1,741 72 -1 -34
Child pornographyTable 14 Note 14 Table 14 Note 15 636 27 745 31 16 773
ProstitutionTable 14 Note 10 0 0 2 Note 0svalue 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 14 Note 16 1 Note 0svalue rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 2 Note 0svalue 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 2,601 109 2,249 93 -15 -70
Administration of justice violations 9,955 418 8,910 370 -11 -44
Other violations 1,234 52 1,096 46 -12 -59
Total Criminal Code traffic violations 1,032 43 985 41 -6 -53
Alcohol-impaired drivingTable 14 Note 17 300 13 302 13 Note 0svalue rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -71
Drug-impaired drivingTable 14 Note 18 81 3 67 3 -18 93
Alcohol- and drug-impaired drivingTable 14 Note 19 2 Note 0svalue rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 12 Note 0svalue 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
Impaired driving (not specified)Table 14 Note 19 5 Note 0svalue rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 7 Note 0svalue 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
Other Criminal Code traffic violations 644 27 597 25 -8 -43
Total drug offences 7,409 311 2,172 90 -71 -87
Total other federal statute violations 4,478 188 3,481 145 -23 -59
Human trafficking under the Immigration and Refugee Protection ActTable 14 Note 20 1 Note 0svalue rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 1 Note 0svalue 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 2,544 107 1,989 83 -23 -71
Other federal statutes 1,933 81 1,491 62 -24 -8
Total - all violations 93,611 3,935 83,868 3,486 -11 -54
... 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

Due to the variability in small numbers, percent changes have not been calculated when the number of offences is below five in any given year.

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Note 2

Includes, for example, criminal negligence causing death.

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Note 3

In 2019, the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey added a new violation code to collection information on “sexual offences which occurred prior to January 4, 1983.” While most violations are not typically reported years after their occurrence, sexual violations may be reported by a victim long after the incident took place due to a variety of reasons. On January 4, 1983, Canadian legislation surrounding sexual offences changed considerably. In order to reflect these changes, the Survey added the new violation code rather than collect historical offences under an existing violation code that did not reflect the state of Canadian legislation at the time of the offence. Therefore, the percentage change from 2009 to 2019 is not shown.

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Note 4

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

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Note 5

Sexual violations against children is a relatively new crime category with only partial data available prior to 2010, therefore the percentage change from 2009 to 2019 is not shown.

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Note 6

Includes sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, sexual exploitation, luring a child via telecommunications/agreement or arrangement, 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 7

"Trafficking in persons" includes four specific indictable offences to address human trafficking, namely sections 279.01 (Trafficking in persons), 279.011 (Trafficking of a person under the age of eighteen years), 279.02 (Material benefit), and 279.03 (Withholding or destroying documents). 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 2009 to 2019 is not shown.

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Note 8

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

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Note 9

Non-consensual distribution of intimate images is an offence created in 2015 by the former Bill C-13 "Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act," therefore the percentage change from 2009 to 2019 is not shown.

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Note 10

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” (Criminal Code Chapter 25, preamble). New violations classified as “offences in relation to sexual services” 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. Therefore, the percentage change from 2009 to 2019 is not shown.

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Note 11

Includes trafficking and the intent to traffic stolen goods.

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Note 12

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 2009 to 2019 for fraud includes identity fraud and identity theft.

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Note 13

Includes altering/removing/destroying a vehicle identification number.

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Note 14

Due to the complexity of cyber incidents, these 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 15

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 offences”. 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 fall under the category of “violent crimes”, and child pornography may be reported as a secondary violation.

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Note 16

Includes seven 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. 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 2009 to 2019 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 17

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 not within the scope of the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.

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Note 18

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 not within the scope of the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.

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Note 19

Reflects new impaired driving offences as per former Bill C-46 "An Act to amend the Criminal Code (offences relating to conveyances) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts," which came into effect part way through 2018.

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Note 20

Includes human trafficking violations under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Data specific to these offences are not available prior to 2011, therefore, the percentage change from 2009 to 2019 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, Centre for Demography.
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.
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