Youth admissions to correctional services^{1, 2, 3}

This product is based on data from the Youth Custody and Community Services Survey (YCCS), the Integrated Correctional Services Survey (ICSS) and Canadian Correctional Services Survey (CCSS). Data are based on a fiscal year (April 1 through March 31).

Admissions are collected each time a person begins any type of custodial or community supervision, and describe and measure the case-flow in correctional agencies over time. The same person can be included several times in the admission counts where the individual moves from one type of legal status to another (e.g., from open to secure custody) or re-enters the system in the same year. As such, admissions represent the number of entries within a fiscal year to sentenced custody, to remand, and to community supervision regardless of the individual's preceding or following legal status.

Releases represent the end of a legal status in correctional services and do not necessarily represent the end of supervision by correctional services. The same person can be included several times in the release counts where the individual moves from one type of legal status to another (e.g., from remand to sentenced custody and then to community services). As such, releases represent the number of movements within a fiscal year out of remand, sentenced custody and the community statuses regardless of the individual's preceding or following legal status.

The total does not necessarily represent all provinces and territories as there are variations in the availability of data for certain jurisdictions and years.

In Ontario data began to be provided through Integrated Correctional Services Survey (ICSS in 2004/2005). Prior to 2004/2005 Ontario data were submitted separately by two provincial ministries: the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS). Ontario did not report pre-trial detention for 12 to 15-year-olds prior to 2004/2005 and data for 12 to 15-year-olds was not provided for 2002/2003. As a result, caution is recommended when making trend comparisons for Ontario and Canada. Ontario community release data are unavailable prior to 2003/2004.

Totals includes all services in which young persons may be supervised. The sum of programs listed may not equal the total because the following types of programs are not listed in the data table, but are included in the total: custody and supervision (murder); custody and supervision (other presumptive); intensive rehabilitative custody and supervision. For British Columbia, custody and supervision includes the following: custody and supervision (murder); custody and supervision (other presumptive). This sanction was made available as part of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) which came into effect April 1st, 2003.

To hold a young person temporarily in custody while awaiting trial or sentencing.

To hold a young person in custody following the breach of community supervision conditions of a custody and community supervision pursuant to a warrant issued by the provincial director.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), which came into effect April 1, 2003 and replaced the Young Offenders Act (YOA), stipulates that the final one-third of most custody sentences shall be served under community supervision.

Totals for secure custody include Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) and Young Offenders Act (YOA) based admissions. A facility is considered secure when youths are detained by security devices, including those which operate with full perimeter security features and/or where youths are under constant observation. The extent to which facilities are "secure" varies across jurisdictions.

Totals for open custody include Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) and Young Offenders Act (YOA) based admissions. A facility is considered "open" when there is minimal use of security devices or perimeter security such as custody in a community residential centre, group home, childcare institution, forest or wilderness camp or any like place or facility. The extent to which facilities are "open" varies across jurisdictions.

A sentencing option as an alternative to custody. Similar to probation, an intensive support and supervision order is served in the community under conditions, but provides closer monitoring and support than a probation order to assist the young person in changing his or her behaviour. This is an "opt-in" sanction under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), meaning that provinces and territories may choose not to implement this option, taking into consideration available resources.

A deferred custody and supervision order allows a young person who would otherwise be sentenced to custody to serve the sentence in the community under a number of conditions. Similar to the conditional sentence of imprisonment for adults, violation of conditions may result in the young person being sent to custody.

A common type of community-based disposition where the offender is placed under the supervision of a probation officer or other designated person.

This category includes the number of youth who have commenced their period of supervision with sentences other than custody or probation, specifically, non-residential program, fine options, orders for restitution, compensation or other community or personal services, and other sentences deemed appropriate by the youth justice court.