Prepared by: Performance Measurement Division National Parole Board EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Female offenders are extremely under-represented within the federal offender population in comparison to male offenders. As of March 31, 2000, female offenders made up just 3.9% of the total federal offender population. Over the past five years, federal female offenders have had a higher grant rate for day and full parole and unescorted temporary absence than their male counterparts. They were also more likely to be on conditional release and to successfully complete that release than male offenders were. Female offenders were more likely to be serving sentences for either Schedule II or Schedule I non-sex offences than male offenders and less likely to be serving sentences for Schedule I sex offences. Aboriginal female offenders were more likely to be serving sentences for Schedule I non-sex offences than other female offenders and were over-represented within the federal female offender population. They accounted for 14.6% of the female offender population compared to the Aboriginal proportion of the total Canadian population which was 2.8% in 1996. They had the lowest grant rate for day and full parole and were the least successful group on conditional release within the female offender population. They were also the only race group within the female offender population that was more likely to be incarcerated than on conditional release. Black female offenders, who were significantly more likely to be serving sentences for Schedule II offences than other female offenders, were also over-represented within the female offender population. They accounted for 12.3% of the female offender population compared to the Black proportion of the total Canadian population which was 2.0% in 1996.1 However, they had the highest grant rate for day and full parole and were the second most successful group on conditional release within the female offender population. Visible Minorities female offenders, who were significantly more likely to be serving sentences for Schedule II offences, were under-represented within the female offender population. They accounted for 3.6% of the female offender population compared to the Visible Minorities proportion of the total Canadian population which was 9.2% in 1996.1 They were the most successful group on conditional release within the female population. Caucasian female offenders, who were more likely to be serving sentences for Schedule I non-sex offences, were also under-represented within the federal female offender population. They accounted for 59.7% of the female offender population compared to the Caucasian proportion of the total Canadian population which was 86.0% in 1996.1 They were more likely to be on conditional release than incarcerated.
This report provides information on the federal female offender population from 1995/96 to 1999/00. The following sections provide detailed information including race and offence profiles as well as grant rates and outcome rates for female offenders on conditional release during this period. In reviewing this report, it is important to remember that caution should be exercised when interpreting statistics for female offenders given the small sample sizes in many areas. 2. RACE PROFILE OF FEDERAL FEMALE OFFENDERS Female offenders comprised 3.4% (757) of the total average federal offender population of 22,173 between 1995/96 and 1999/00. This compares to their 51.3% proportion of the total Canadian population according to the 1996 Canadian population census. Female offenders were more likely to be on conditional release than male offenders (five year average 56.5% compared to 38.4%) and, of those on conditional release, almost 75% were on full parole. However, the female offender population has been growing in recent years. While the total federal offender population has decreased 2.7% since 1995/96 (from 22,550 to 21,935), the total federal female offender population increased by 31.1% during the same period (from 649 to 851). Table 1
* Other includes other, unknown and blank While female offenders as a group continue to be significantly under-represented within the total federal offender population, female Aboriginal and Black offenders have been significantly over-represented within the female offender population. In the 1996 Canadian population census, Caucasians represented 86% of the total population, Aboriginals 2.8%, Blacks 2% and Visible Minorities 9.2%.1 Within the federal female offender population, Caucasians represented 59.7% of the population, Aboriginals 14.6%, Blacks 12.3% and Visible Minorities 3.6%. Table 2
* Other includes other, unknown and blank The Aboriginal female offender population has increased 117% since 1995/96 (from 70 to 152). As Table 1 indicates, they were the only female offender group that was more likely to be incarcerated than on conditional release. Of those on conditional release, just over half were on full parole. The Black female offender population has increased 28.2% since 1995/96 (from 78 to 100). The Visible Minorities female offender population increased 194.1% during the same period (from 17 to 50). We are not sure why there has been such a large increase in the Visible Minorities female offender population. However, speculation is that more Visible Minorities females are choosing to identify themselves. Black and Visible Minorities female offenders were more likely to be on conditional release than incarcerated. Over 80% of those on conditional release were on full parole. The Caucasian female offender population has increased 15.0% since 1995/96 (from 427 to 491). Like all the other groups, except Aboriginal female offenders, Caucasian female offenders were more likely to be on conditional release than incarcerated and most of those on conditional release were on full parole. 3. OFFENCE PROFILE OF FEDERAL FEMALE OFFENDERS BY RACE Federal female offenders serving sentences for Schedule I non-sex offences were significantly more likely to be incarcerated than on conditional release between 1995/96 and 1999/00 while those serving sentences for Schedule II offences were significantly more likely to be on conditional release. Black and Visible Minorities female offenders were far more likely to be serving sentences for Schedule II offences while Aboriginal offenders were far more likely to be serving sentences for Schedule I non-sex offences. Table 3
* Other includes other, unknown and blank The offence profile of the federal female offender population from 1995/96 to 1999/00 shows that:
4. GRANT RATES FOR FEDERAL FEMALE OFFENDERS Federal female offenders had significantly higher grant rates for day parole, full parole and unescorted temporary absences than the total federal offender population between 1995/96 and 1999/00 (day parole 83.6% versus 68.9%; full parole 66.9% versus 40.7%; unescorted temporary absence 76.1% versus 63.1%). In comparing the total female offender population, those females serving sentences for
Table 4
* Other includes other, unknown and blank The table above indicates that:
5. OUTCOME RATES OF FEDERAL FEMALE OFFENDERS ON CONDITIONAL RELEASE Federal female offenders were more successful than their male counterparts on all types of conditional release (day parole 85.9% versus 82.2%; full parole 77.0% versus 68.7%; statutory release 63.7% versus 58.3%) over the last five years. Outcome Rates by Race Table 5
*Other includes other, unknown and blank Table 6
*Other includes other, unknown and blank Does not include those with life or indeterminate sentences Table 7
* Other includes other, unknown and blank The revocation for breach of conditions rate for federal female offenders was lower than the rate for male offenders in all conditional release categories (day parole 1.4% less; full parole 1.0% less; statutory release 2.8% less). Female offenders were also revoked less often for a new offence than their male counterparts, the differences being most dramatic in the full parole category (revocation for a non-violent offence 6.5% versus 12.3% for male offenders; revocation for a violent offence 0.7% versus 2.3% for male offenders). Female Aboriginal offenders were less likely to successfully complete any form of conditional release and were more likely to be revoked for breach of conditions or a new non-violent offence then any other female offender race group. Black and Visible Minorities female offenders had significantly higher successful completion rates on day parole and full parole than other race groups. Caucasian female offender outcome rates were consistent with the total female offender population. Outcome Rates by Offence Profile Table 8
Table 9
Does not include those with life or indeterminate sentences Table 10
Female offenders serving sentences for:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||