Fact sheet: Yukon

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Victims of police-reported violent crime in Yukon, 2023

• In 2023, police services across the Yukon reported 1,791 victims of violent crime and traffic offences causing death or bodily harm (Table 12.1). This represented 3,915 victims per 100,000 population, which was more than three times higher than the national rate (1,207 per 100,000).^{Footnote 94}
• Most (88%) victims were adults aged 18 and older;^{Footnote 95} half (50%) of all victims were aged 25 to 44 years, representing the largest proportion of any age group (Table 12.1). Meanwhile, 9% of victims were youth aged 12 to 17 years, and 3% were children 11 years and younger. The rate of victims was highest among young adults aged 18 to 24 years (7,141 per 100,000 population), followed by adults aged 25 to 44 years (5,841 per 100,000 population) and youth aged 12 to 17 years (5,428 per 100,000).^{Footnote 96}
• Three-quarters (75%) of victims of police-reported violent crime in 2023 were victims of assault.^{Footnote 97} Assault victims accounted for 78% of adult victims aged 18 years and older, and more than half (55%) of child and youth victims aged 17 years and younger.
• The second most commonly reported offence was “other violent violations” which accounted for 16% of victims.^{Footnote 98} This category includes offences such as robbery, extortion, and uttering threats, among other violent crimes.
• Overall, 6% of police-reported victims of violent crime in the Yukon in 2023 were victims of sexual assault.^{Footnote 99} Most (78%) sexual assault victims were adults aged 18 years and older, and 16% were youth aged 12 to 17 years. A small number (6%) were children aged 11 years and younger (Table 12.1).
• More than half (56%) of victims of sexual violations against children were youth aged 12 to 17 years, and less than half (44%) were children aged 11 years and younger (Table 12.1).
• While more than half (55%) of all police-reported victims were female, they represented much larger proportions of victims of sexual assault (93%) and sexual violations against children (87%) (Table 12.2).
• Most (83%) of victims of homicide, attempted murder and other violations causing death were male, as well as half (50%) of victims of other violent violations (Table 12.2).
• Male and female victims of police-reported sexual assault differed notably by age. Most (81%) female sexual assault victims were adults aged 18 years and older, and less than four in ten (38%) male sexual assault victims were adults.^{Footnote 100}
• Compared to female victims, sexual offences were less common among male children and youth aged 17 years and younger, as 5% were victims of sexual assault and 4% were victims of sexual violations against children (17% and 24%, respectively, among female victims).^{Footnote 101} However, assault was more commonly reported among male child and youth victims (71%) than female child and youth victims (41%).

Victim services in Yukon

Yukon’s Department of Justice provides services for victims of crime through their Victim Services Branch. This includes system-based services that assist victims of all crime types (Yukon Victim Services) and offer practical supports such as a Victims of Crime Emergency Fund and an emergency cell phone program. In addition, specialized programs are available to specific types of victims including domestic violence and sexual violence victims, child and youth victims and their families, and family members of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Victim Services has offices in Whitehorse, Watson Lake and Dawson City, and provide itinerant services to all other Yukon communities and two Northern B.C. communities. Given the geographic challenges of providing services in the territory, most communities do not have resident victim services staff. In these communities, victims generally receive support from the Victim Services Branch during every court circuit, during community travel by Victim Services Workers, and by telephone, email, text, and video.

The information provided below reflects data reported by system-based programs administered by the Yukon Department of Justice. Some individuals who are victims in repeat incidents (e.g., domestic violence victims), or in multiple incidents with different offenders, may be counted more than once. In addition, individual incidents of crime may result in several victims being counted, including secondary victims such as family members.

• In 2023, Yukon Victim Services assisted 1,547 victims of crime. This includes both newly referred victims and those who began accessing services prior to 2023.
• Almost three-quarters (73%) of victims served identified as female.
• Most victims who received assistance (82%) were victims of violent crime. Over half of violent offence victims (57%) were victims of a physical assault, and another 23% were victims of sexual offences. More than half (58%) of those who accessed services for a sexual offence were in relation to sexual offences against children.^{Footnote 102}

Detailed data tables

Table 12.1: Number and percentage of victims of police-reported violent crime and traffic violations causing death or bodily harm, by type of violation and age group, Yukon, 2023

Table 12.2: Number and percentage of victims of police-reported violent crime and traffic violations causing death or bodily harm, by type of violation and sex, Yukon, 2023

Table 12.3: Number and percentage of female victims of police-reported violent crime and traffic violations causing death or bodily harm, by type of violation and age group, Yukon, 2023

Table 12.4: Number and percentage of male victims of police-reported violent crime and traffic violations causing death or bodily harm, by type of violation and age group, Yukon, 2023

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