JustFacts
Indigenous overrepresentation in provincial/territorial corrections
November 2016
Research and Statistics Division
This fact sheet is based on data from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics (CCJS) on Indigenous adults and youth in the correctional system.Footnote 1 Indigenous adults and youth are overrepresented in Canada’s correctional system. Despite the Gladue decision in 1999, the proportion of Indigenous offenders in the correctional system has increased over the past 15 years.
Indigenous adults overrepresented in custody
One in four (25%) adults (18 years and older) admitted to provincial/territorial correctional services in 2014/2015 were Indigenous, including community sentences (24%), sentenced custody (26%), remand (25%), and other custody (34%).Footnote 2
The proportion of Indigenous adults admitted to provincial/territorial custody in 2014/2015 (26%) was almost 9 times higher than their representation in the population (3%).
The proportion of Indigenous adults admitted to correctional services has increased for every type of correctional supervision since 2007/2008 (Table 1).
Indigenous youth overrepresented in custody
One in three (33%) youth (aged 12-17) admitted to provincial/territorial correctional services in 2014/2015 were Indigenous, including community sentences (29%), open custody (39%), secure custody (40%), pre-trial detention (36%), and provincial director remand (63%).Footnote 3
The proportion of Indigenous youth admitted to provincial/territorial custody in 2014/2015 (37%) was about 5 times higher than their representation in the population (7%).
The proportion of Indigenous youth admitted to correctional services has increased for every type of correctional supervision since 2007/2008 (Table 2).
Overrepresentation in custody more pronounced for Indigenous females
The degree of Indigenous overrepresentation in the correctional system is greater for Indigenous females than Indigenous males.
In 2014/2015, Indigenous men accounted for 24% of adult male custody admissions (25% sentenced custody, 23% remand, 30% other custody) and Indigenous women accounted for 38% of adult female custody admissions (36% sentenced custody, 35% remand, 55% other custody).
In 2014/2015, male Indigenous youth accounted for 34% of male youth custody admissions (35% open custody, 38% secure custody, 32% pre-trial detention, 62% provincial director remand) and female Indigenous youth accounted for 49% of female youth custody admissions (53% open custody, 51% secure custody, 47% pre-trial detention, 67% provincial director remand).
2007/2008 | 2008/2009 | 2009/2010 | 2010/2011 | 2011/2012 | 2012/2013 | 2013/2014 | 2014/2015 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total correctional services | 20 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 |
Community sentence | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 |
Custody (total) | 21 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 |
Sentenced custody | 23 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
Remand | 20 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
Other custody | 26 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 33 | 34 | 34 |
Note: Analysis excludes cases where Indigenous identity was unknown. Data does not represent all provinces/territories as there are variations in the availability of data.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 251-0022 - Adult correctional services, custodial admissions to provincial and territorial programs by aboriginal identity, annual (number), CANSIM (database); Table 251-0026 - Adult correctional services, community admissions to provincial and territorial programs by aboriginal identity, annual (number), CANSIM (database). Custom tabulation prepared by the Department of Justice Canada.
2007/2008 | 2008/2009 | 2009/2010 | 2010/2011 | 2011/2012 | 2012/2013 | 2013/2014 | 2014/2015 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total correctional services | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 |
Community sentence | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 |
Custody (total) | 28 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 35 | 37 | 39 | 37 |
Secure custody | 32 | 34 | 32 | 34 | 39 | 34 | 35 | 40 |
Open custody | 35 | 36 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 39 | 42 | 39 |
Pre-trial detention | 26 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 34 | 35 | 37 | 36 |
Provincial director remand | 54 | 50 | 56 | 63 | 60 | 71 | 66 | 63 |
Note: Analysis excludes cases where Indigenous identity was unknown. Data does not represent all provinces/territories as there are variations in the availability of data.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 251-0012 - Youth custody and community services (YCCS), admissions to correctional services, by aboriginal identity and sex, annual (number), CANSIM (database). Custom tabulation prepared by the Department of Justice Canada.
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